anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm? Pt 2

[DysonSphere]

I was enjoying reading the other thread. If anyone wants to continue

Here's first thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4633764-anyone-queuing-to-see-the-coffin-in-london-atm

Anyone joined the queue what's it like atm?

Been going since 8.30. Think I am pretty much at the end of the snaking bit in Westminster Gardens now. Not sure how much longer to go.

Another chilly night coming up. Dress warm!

@SquashedFlyBiscuits - when you get to B1 you are about 25 mins left to go. It is a direct line, no more zig zagging. As you come out of the gardens and into road you approach some tents for security (airport type scanners but you don’t have to take off coats). Not long!

I went via disabled access but I sort of wished it had been possible to see the hall from the stairs. I imagine you get a sweeping gaze of it all and more time to take it in as you descend the steps.

Must be grand the carved beams seem amazing. I looked up but it was over quickly

I loved reading the first thread.

Going back to Viscount Severn, it is very different standing in vigil for your very old grandmother to walking behind the coffin of your young mother who died suddenly.

I’ve been in the hall as a guest. There is a hall lodged in one of the beams from when Henry VIII used to play an early form of tennis in there.

I hope the wait isn't too long for anyone waiting. I wish I could have gone but I did go to lay flowers and visit BP. It's so busy in London. It's really lovely to see all the flowers/cards etc. very moving

London is lovely at the moment. Really special.

I went to London today and also in the week and the busyness today compared to earlier is eye-popping. But a great atmosphere and all the police and volunteers are cheerful and helpful

Does anyone know how long the people walking through now would have waited? From watching the footage I can’t believe the number if people who took young children to queue.

Wow! How lovely to see that! I was wondering if it had any hidden or secret passageways or escape routes as it was used by Royalty for centuries. It literally has imbibed all that history you can almost imagine it speak.

Ds is heading up there now expecting a 13 hour wait.

At least 12 hours I believe. I think people must have partners/family who are taking turns to go home with kids and return? Or going to restaurants etc

I've seen a couple children groups go in, some school, some I imagine perhaps clubs? At this point I wonder if they were getting special permission to join the queue at a half-way point?

It's an extraordinarily beautiful building and interior.

Ball, not hall.

That would make a lot of sense, I just cant imagine otherwise how parents are managing 2/3/4 yr olds for 12 hours in an outdoor 5 mile queue. The babies in buggy’s would be easier to deal with then the slightly older but still way too young to walk that far for that long children.

There was a secret passageway found a couple of years ago

www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/26/westminster-secret-passageway-discovery-reveals-169-year-old-graffiti

My pictures of the hall from about 5 years ago.

😂

No it's a hall I tell you!! See it? See the king playing tennis up there! 😂

I honestly don't know what my brain did there. I can't even say the context was ambiguous. In my defence my time slot was for the very early hours of the morning and I had less than two hours sleep and a bazillion cups of coffee, so I'm a bit addled!!

@PriamFarrl Does your voice really echo when theres so few people in it? It looks large onscreen with hundreds of people going through. Positively looks cavernous in your pictures.

@Underwater11 I really don't know, I'm assuming. When I was young, I took my children almost everywhere with me. But I don't think I could have managed a 12 hour wait. When it was 8 hours a couple days ago, I could see myself having managed that. But not 12 hours without loading them off on someone else. No way.

But that's not to say someone else couldn't/wouldn't.

It is huge! And yes, lots of echo.

Joined queue at 8.30. Stepped through the doors to the hall at 8.05. The time went really quickly. We had a family with a 2 year old in front of us. He stayed in the queue all day in and out of his pushchair and really enjoyed himself saying hello to all the emergency services vehicles and boats on the river. Bit tired now though. Thanks for all the support from the queuers who gave advice to me and good luck to those still in the queue. The feeling when you get in there is indescribable, so worth it.

Yay Squashed!
pleased for you.

Has anyone seen that a roller skater nearly crashed into the motorcade

at first I thought it was a threat, but given the amount of oblivious nutters using all sorts to get around these days, it does seem likely it was just a muppet crossing the road.