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Original poster

Will the Queen’s death be one of those events you remember where you were when you heard?

122 replies

asblindasabat · 30/09/2022 21:54

Just like 9/11, Princess Diana etc.

I’m talking about it like it was years ago when it was only just three weeks ago but I was in work when at lunch time everybody started talking about how the RF were rushing to Balmoral to see the Queen and then how the news presenters were dressed in black.

I checked my phone to see all the Facebook updates on my feed about her doctors were concerned for her health and thinking how something must have been very wrong.

I arrived home at 5pm that day, stuck on BBC news/sky news/ ITV news and sat and watched the rolling coverage.

I was on ITV news when her death was announced at 6.30 and I’ll always remember Mary Nightingale saying the royal household just issued a statement and there was a pause, just remember sitting there saying to DH “oh no this is it, she’s died” and then it was announced.

it was just so surreal. They started playing the national anthem and I was just sitting there in shock as even though it was expected, it was still shocking in some way.

anyone else think they’ll remember where they were and what they were doing that day for the rest of their lives?

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 30/09/2022 21:55

I honestly cannot remember already! So I think I’ll remember the time but not the exact moment and place

TotallyWhatever · 30/09/2022 21:56

Probably not. It was end of an era, but not shocking. Princess Di was shocking and tragic which is why we all remember

etulosba · 30/09/2022 21:56

I will. Maybe not the exact time but certainly the place.

I was on holiday abroad.

QueefofSheena · 30/09/2022 21:57

I don’t think I will. Not a royalist though.

9/11 has been the big one for me as I was working in finance in the City, and we had people in the WTC.

HRTQueen · 30/09/2022 21:59

I don’t think so as it wasn’t a shock we knew it was going to be announced very soon earlier in the day

Chattycathydoll · 30/09/2022 22:00

Yes, I think so. I was trying to gently explain to DD what was going on and why I was looking at the news.

’so have you heard about the queen?’
’no, what happened?’
’well, she is very old. And she’s very poorl-
newsflash
oh, well, she’s just died.’
’what???’
’yeah. I was going to tell you it’s in the news because she’s very poorly but actually now she is dead.’
’that was quick’

MsBombastic555 · 30/09/2022 22:00

I think most likely yes. Like you I heard abt the news she was I'll in the afternoon, saw stuff trending when I was on my tablet, people commenting that they might have known meeting Liz Truss was enough to finish her off lol (this was before she died). Then by chance I happened to be watching the news whenever it was and it was breaking then that they had just received the statement that she had died 👀👀👀👀 I was like noooooooo. Couldn't believe it. It still hasn't sunk in yet I think. But I am not very upset, no disrespect whatsoever but I am not one of those who it has affected. My mother on the other hand who is less of a royalist than me, was crying 😕 go figure..

JunebuginDecember · 30/09/2022 22:02

I've already forgotten...

MsBombastic555 · 30/09/2022 22:02

Forgot to say I had been telling everyone to stop overreacting. My grandad had been in and out of hospital several times throughout his nineties and he lived to 100, I kept saying you can expect these things now she is 96, I'm sure she'll be fine. Oh.

SavingsThreads · 30/09/2022 22:04

What I can remember is the number of threads we've had on this exact topic! They started about 2 mins after the announcement Grin

YourLipsMyLips · 30/09/2022 22:04

God no, but I couldn't give a shit. I didn't watch any news for a fortnight when I heard she was ill because I couldn't bear the 24-hour griefwank that I knew would ensue.

VroomVrooom · 30/09/2022 22:04

I mean, people will rush on here to competitively say they’ve forgotten already - of course they will - but otherwise, yes, most people will indeed remember where they were when they heard QEII died.

generalh · 30/09/2022 22:04

Doubt it.

Original poster
asblindasabat · 30/09/2022 22:05

Oh, well I must be in the minority then! I will remember it though as it was just such a big event.

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 30/09/2022 22:05

I was on mumsnet....

W0tnow · 30/09/2022 22:08

It won’t be burned into my brain like 9/11 or the London bombings or Princess Di. It was kind of a drawn out thing over a number of hours, rather than a bombshell. Jus lots of speculation, followed by totally expected news.

NCFT0922 · 30/09/2022 22:09

I’ve already forgotten. I can’t actually remember the date now I come to think of it.

Rentaroom33 · 30/09/2022 22:09

No probably not but I also don’t remember where I was when Diana died so…

DillDanding · 30/09/2022 22:09

No - bit of a non-event in my family. I had the tv on in the background that afternoon when the press were circling, but then I went to a gym class and missed the actual announcement.

I'd remember news events that were a big shock, like 9/11, but it wasn't exactly a surprise that the queen died (nor especially noteworthy to me).

Porcupineintherough · 30/09/2022 22:09

Well I can remember but it was nothing like 9-11 at least for me. With 9-11 I was shocked and stunned. Spent hours /days watching events unfold on the television. With the Queen's death I switched off the tv after 20 minutes and kept it off til the day of the funeral.

Eyesopenwideawake · 30/09/2022 22:10

It was obvious that a statement was imminent - I was listening to LBC; Andrew Marr announced it and he choked on the words, it was very touching.

Surtsey · 30/09/2022 22:11

Yes I will, and so will dd.

Changenameobviousreasons · 30/09/2022 22:11

It was the first day of my new job. We had the radio on and they mentioned that the family were going to Balmoral - we all just went silent. I followed the news for the rest of the day then came home and did normal things.

My daughter was knackered so went to bed early, I came downstairs and DP was on the phone to his BIL with the news in the background. I looked at the TV and noticed the flags were half mast - a few seconds later Huw Edwards made the announcement.

I am not a royalist (or people-it Tbf) , far from it, however for some reason the Queen really got to me. It was very surreal!

Bonjovispjs · 30/09/2022 22:12

Yes I will remember. I was wiping the shitty arse of the little boy I'm a nanny for 🤣

Bouledeneige · 30/09/2022 22:15

Yes. I was in my car. Going to a meeting that got cancelled as a result.

I also vividly remember:

The day Diana died
9/11 and watching live the second plane crash into the towers in my office
7/7 London bombings - nearly getting on the same bus as the bomber and then managing the evacuation of our staff home
The day I drove up to pick up my DD just before lockdown
The day Kwame gambled our economy away