A tribute from across pond. The NFL will reportedly honor the late Queen Elizabeth II with a moment of silence during the league’s season opener.
According to TMZ Sports, the tribute to the monarch will be part of the game between the Los Angeles Rams (Buffalo Bills) on Thursday, September 8. The league’s U.K. Twitter account also commemorated the royal’s passing with a statement shared via social media.
“Everyone at NFL UK is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II,” read the message. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with The Royal Family. We join all those mourning the loss of Her Majesty.”
Buckingham Palace confirmed that Elizabeth died at age 96 on Thursday, hours after revealing that she’d been placed under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” read the palace’s statement. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The sovereign’s eldest son, Prince CharlesLater, he also shared his tribute to Elizabeth. “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” the new king, 73, began in a statement. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
The NFL joined other sports organizations in recognizing the queen’s death. The BMW PGA Championship — which is currently being held at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England — suspended play until further notice. Friday, September 9th will see the closing of the practice areas and the golf course.
The English Football League suspended all scheduled Friday games and stated that it would decide on further weakening games after a discussion with the British government.
The Thursday rugby matches in England and Scotland were also postponed, as was all other games for the weekend. Horse racing — one of the queen’s favorite sports — was also canceled for Thursday Friday.
“Her Majesty has been one of the greatest and most influential supporters in the history of horse racing,” the British Horseracing Authority said in a statement on Thursday. “Her passion for racing and the racehorse shone brightly throughout her life, not only through her close involvement in breeding and racing horses, but in her roles as a patron of The Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and as the figurehead of Royal Ascot. … It is right, therefore, that all racing is suspended for today and tomorrow as we begin to grieve Her Majesty’s passing and remember her extraordinary life and contribution to our sport and our nation.”
Back in America, the U.S. Tennis Association announced that there would be a moment of silence ahead of Thursday night’s semifinal match between Ons Jabeur and Caroline GarciaAt the U.S. Open New York City.
