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Anyone else who can’t go to see the Queen lying in state wish they could?

110 replies

asblindasabat · 14/09/2022 20:33

I’m in NI and the flights + a hotel would be far too expensive so I can’t unfortunately.

would have been nice to have gone and paid my respects though.

OP posts:
Toomanycornflakes · 14/09/2022 23:37

@BMW6 @userxx @TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination

I may be a cunt (?!) but im not the cunt quieing for hours or partaking in the current hysteria. Been involved in OLB for the past 5 years. I’ve paid my respects privately and I’ve put a fair few extra hours in work wise. Each to their own 🤷‍♀️

Evenstar · 14/09/2022 23:55

I have decided to go, I have fibromyalgia and it will be hard standing for a long time, but I am going very early in the morning as there are extra trains and will use the accessible queue.

DH and I can’t go together as we have nobody to leave our dogs with, so he may go overnight at the weekend. I just feel I need go, and my late mum and grandma were ardent royalists so I am going for them too, the Queen promised she would serve us for the whole of her life and she certainly did, this feels like a small thank you.

OnTheRoll · 15/09/2022 00:09

I am on a train back home having been to pay my respects to the Queen. The wait was ok (4,5 hrs) but dragging towards the end. We also caught the change of guards so were able to enjoy it and got a few extra minutes inside.

I am very pleased I did that. It was an extremely emotional and poignant experience and I actually cried walking out (didn't cry before when I learnt about the Queen's passing).

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OnTheRoll · 15/09/2022 00:13

Womencanlift · 14/09/2022 23:00

Seen tweets that say it’s moving at a rate of 0.8 miles an hour and this would mean from London Bridge it’s about a 5 hour wait

The progression may be something like that before you reach the entrance to the Westminster grounds. It is easily 2-3 hours after that - including security check.

BMW6 · 15/09/2022 01:32

Toomanycornflakes · 14/09/2022 23:37

@BMW6 @userxx @TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination

I may be a cunt (?!) but im not the cunt quieing for hours or partaking in the current hysteria. Been involved in OLB for the past 5 years. I’ve paid my respects privately and I’ve put a fair few extra hours in work wise. Each to their own 🤷‍♀️

So who the hell are YOU to call other people "weird" because they don't think, feel or do as YOU do?

Whatever "good person" you think you are - you're not. Cop on to yourself.

Rowantree2013 · 15/09/2022 01:56

I'm with you! And I've paid enough to that rich woman over the years. Not paying my respects as well. I'll keep those for someone more deserving.

BritWifeInUSA · 15/09/2022 02:53

I would love to go. But I live 5000 miles away.

alpenguin · 15/09/2022 02:56

No.
I can look at coffins in a funeral directors for free.

MarshaMelrose · 15/09/2022 02:57

I'd love to go but I can't get down there. I love the queen and it would mean a lot to me to pay my respects to someone who gave me so much pleasure and lifted me when I was down. I'm not worried though.
We will meet again.

notdaddycool · 15/09/2022 03:38

Yes, live close by but on a work trip out of Europe, will miss it all. Has always thought I would go.

Stephthegreat · 15/09/2022 03:51

@BMW6 Oh dear! This does sound rather hysterical.

I feel like I’m living in an alternative reality at the moment.

The Queen was a great lady, I don’t understand the need for this at all. There won’t be another opportunity to do this with Charles anyway as he is not beloved to the people. Most people I’ve spoken to don’t like him and I imagine with this antipathy the monarchy won’t survive.

BeautifulWar · 15/09/2022 05:53

nope. I don't think filing past an embalmed body in a coffin is in any way respectful.

Me neither. It seems voyeuristic and self serving to me - less like paying respects as opposed to getting in on the act. I'd rather sign a book of condolences.

Womencanlift · 15/09/2022 07:21

OnTheRoll · 15/09/2022 00:13

The progression may be something like that before you reach the entrance to the Westminster grounds. It is easily 2-3 hours after that - including security check.

Oh wow that is a long wait. Good to know, thanks. A friend of mine is watching the tracker constantly trying to judge the best time to head to the queue ( doesn’t live far from London Bridge) so I will tell her that

Snowiscold · 15/09/2022 07:27

Stephthegreat · 15/09/2022 03:51

@BMW6 Oh dear! This does sound rather hysterical.

I feel like I’m living in an alternative reality at the moment.

The Queen was a great lady, I don’t understand the need for this at all. There won’t be another opportunity to do this with Charles anyway as he is not beloved to the people. Most people I’ve spoken to don’t like him and I imagine with this antipathy the monarchy won’t survive.

Yes, there will be a lying in state when Charles dies too-unless he himself says he doesn’t want one. It’s nothing to do with how popular he is.

YoSofi · 15/09/2022 07:37

@Evenstar would you mind letting me know how long you queue for please?

My mum would love to go and pay her respects, but also has Fybro and is worried about queuing. We are midlands so would need to factor the journey in also.

TreacsPotNoodle · 15/09/2022 11:34

I find the whole think completely bizarre but each to their own I guess.

Evenstar · 15/09/2022 12:18

@YoSofi I left home just before 6am, got the tube to Pimlico and was at the accessible queue by 8am, I was given a wristband for the 8-9am time slot got to Westminster around 8.25, I got into the hall just before 9am and saw the guard change. It was very moving and I am glad I went, but at my pace it was quite a long walk from the accessible queue at Tate Britain, you would need to look at the tube as well as not all stations are step free. I am so glad I went.

YoSofi · 15/09/2022 12:29

Thank you so much @Evenstar

I’m really pleased you got to go and pay your respects, I hope you manage to rest for the remainder of the day x

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 15/09/2022 12:37

No.

The poor woman (yes, I get it, she wasn't 'poor') is being hawked around the country like a travelling museum exhibit. I understand she planned her rites down to the finer detail, and also that her family knew in advance what would happen and were fully prepared for it. Just the same, I'm glad she wasn't my mother.

And having been in the position of bereaved daughter, I'd also be mortified if other people's mums were having their funerals postponed, the grief and uncertainty consequently prolonged for their relatives, on account of mine.

Mommabear20 · 15/09/2022 18:04

Me! But I've got a 2 year old, a 1 year old and am pregnant with number 2 and no one that could watch them/ come with me as DH can't get time off work. 😭

asblindasabat · 15/09/2022 18:47

I was thinking that because I can’t go and pay my respects to HMTQ at Westminster, maybe sometime in the not too distant future, I could go to London.

Does anyone know if the King George VI Memorial Chapel/vault is open to the public? I would go to her resting place and pay my respects there in the future. Maybe it’s closed to the public though as it’s her and her relative’s grave.

OP posts:
Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 15/09/2022 18:56

I would but it's just not possible with work and child etc. I did go to see her land in London, seeing the hearse that close drive past was emotional.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 15/09/2022 19:00

Does anyone know if the King George VI Memorial Chapel/vault is open to the public? I would go to her resting place and pay my respects there in the future. Maybe it’s closed to the public though as it’s her and her relative’s grave.

Yes, with the ticket to Windsor castle.

asblindasabat · 15/09/2022 19:03

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 15/09/2022 19:00

Does anyone know if the King George VI Memorial Chapel/vault is open to the public? I would go to her resting place and pay my respects there in the future. Maybe it’s closed to the public though as it’s her and her relative’s grave.

Yes, with the ticket to Windsor castle.

What exactly do you see at the vault as opposed to a usual grave at a cemetery?

is it basically just like standing outside a door into a big room just like you’d be standing at someone’s head stone at their graveside?

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 15/09/2022 19:16

Does anyone know someone in real life who went? I don't know a soul. The whole thing seems bizarre to me. Everyone I know works, who are all these people who are taking at least a day to go and stand in queue to see a coffin? Are they all retired or unemployed?