Nobody does a queue better than the British! Queue for coffin is five miles long

[Fivemoreminutes1]

So the question is, would you join it? I’m just not very patient and don’t think I could do it!

news.sky.com/story/route-revealed-for-queue-to-see-the-queen-lying-in-state-and-where-you-can-take-a-break-12696584

The TV commentators don’t sound sneery at all, and are saying how moving it is to see this.

They showed two lines of people just now inside the hall.
If they keep this system going , it might speed things up a little bit.

Every 20 mins the queue will pause whilst they change the guards doing the vigil, they have just said on the BBC.

Queueing creates an massive sense of esprit de corps among complete strangers - it’s been proven that moaning breaks down social barriers! It’s also truly democratic - it doesn’t matter how elevated your social status, you’ll still need to stand in line like anybody else.

The people at the front of the queue were from the USA and willing to give up some of their holiday because it was such a special moment in history.

Jesus. I get edgy if I'm in a queue for even a minute or two - hats off to anyone who could wait for five miles!

This shows it is currently 2.5 miles long

I queued for 6 hours to sign the book of condolence at Kensington Palace when Diana died.
I really wanted to go to London to pay my respects, but sadly, now have to work extra to cover the cancellations created by the bank holiday on Monday.

Apologies if it sounds irreverent but I had to laugh at: 'Her Majesty The Queen's Lying-in-State | Queue Tracker'

My theory is that it part of the trappings of power.

And power isn't supposed to be efficient. It is supposed to be compelling. The mere fact that people will willingly engage in an inefficient system is the point.

This to me sums up the batshittery of this week.
Those people are nuts

*CaptainSamCarter
Why on earth did they not put a booking system in place. Go online, select a time slot and then turn up at that time. If you're late you don't get in. They can work out how long people will take to get round and then calculate how many people can be admitted every 15 minutes. Tickets can be issued for free. It's not rocket science. What a ridiculous state of affairs.*

Nope I think it's 👍🏻 that you just have to rock up and do the queue- old style.

No on line queues, staring at a screen for hours refreshing. No faffing with ID.No bods buying up tickets. No reselling of tickets.

It is what is it. And obviously the UK excels at queues.

I find it all a bit cringey.

Oh, you can live-stream it through The BBC ... so you don't miss a moment of the action.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-62902778

No.

I admire anyone who has the grit and determination too. I can't imagine ever having that sort of love for anyone id out myself through that to view a flag over a box.

5 miles is like 8000m

So assuming the line moves at 3m a minute that's about 40 hours!

It may move quicker but I've just got home from work and switched on TV and it doesn't look very quick!

Just when you think things can't get any stranger

I’m watching the first members of the public paying their respects. How stupid they all are, right? Queuing so long (people queued just as long for the late King btw). It’s incredibly moving. A few are wiping their eyes, one quietly blew kisses, men removing hats and bowing...Just beautiful. You can see how much this means to them and how every moment of waiting has been worth it for them.

I don’t think they’re stupid. I have utter admiration for them

@Mooserp where can I find that queue tracker?

I found it very moving indeed to see how much this means to people.

Thank you. A lot of people - not MN of course who are above such foolishness - will be pleased

I am, very unexpectedly, more moved by seeing those people coming in and going past the bier than I have been for most of the other things that have happened so far.

Currently seems to be going at 12-14 people per minute on the public side. On the other side there's a lot of people in black - possibly MPs or civil servants? Who are going rather quicker.

Well, there is that way of looking at it, I suppose.

I would think members of the public would be dressed in black/black ties too? That is normal for any funeral, isn't it, and I would think many would see this as a part of a funeral. I would certainly wear black if I was there.

It was just getting interesting - some kind of guard change - and it cut to a test card.