Three days after the death of the husband of the Queen of England, a week of national mourning opens across the Channel.

It coincides with the relaxation of the confinement in force since December in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic and the reopening of "non-essential" businesses, including the famous pubs.

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As a week of national mourning begins after the death of Prince Philip, across the Channel, the British will be able to console themselves… in the pub.

Bars and restaurants, as well as hairdressers or clothing stores, are indeed part of the "non-essential" businesses which reopen this Monday with the relief of the confinement in force since December in the face of Covid-19 in England.

Out of decency for the husband of Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will ultimately not drink a pint in front of the cameras as he had promised.

But the Londoners met by Europe 1 do not hide their impatience. 

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"We have reservations from noon!"

"The funeral on Saturday, it changes the atmosphere, it's more melancholy", admits Jim, met in front of his pub, tables and chairs ready to be set up on the terrace.

"But we can not wait anyway, we have been closed since Christmas! We still have the decorations on the wall ... So even if we can only serve on the sidewalk, it's already not bad!"

© Théo Maneval / Europe 1

The service will in fact only be outside and only on tables, to limit each group to six people.

Reservations are therefore recommended, and numerous.

"We already have 60 people. We try to make room for those who would like to come unexpectedly, but the second you reopen the pubs, they are full," Jim smiles.

"Today, it will be madness. We have reservations as of noon!" 

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"Drink one" in "memory" of Prince Philip

Among those clients will be Eric and Khasa, who have booked "every weekend" and speak of "national relief".

"It's a bit of a shame that it falls at the same time" as the prince's death, sighs the young woman.

"But even in national mourning, we can say that Philip had a good life, and drink one in his memory!"