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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my 2 dc's to London for the Royal wedding celebrations?

46 replies

Wormshuffler · 15/04/2011 18:45

I'm not asking for opinions on the rights or wrongs of the wedding thank you, as I see it as a part of history that I would love to attend with my family.
I'm however becoming increasingly worried about the terrorist threat, and also the planned anti-royal demonstrations, I am of a mind that if we don't go because of them , then they have won already? but obviously don't want to put my kids in danger.
What do you think?

OP posts:
BooBooGlass · 15/04/2011 18:47

How old are they? The chances are they will be bored silly, that's going to be the real problem, forget terrorists

unfitmother · 15/04/2011 18:50

YANBU, just a bit mad.

diabolo · 15/04/2011 18:51

Oh just do it if you want to. Loads of people will.

You can't live your life in a "what if" bubble or you'd never go anywhere.

MrsDaffodill · 15/04/2011 18:52

I wouldn't. Not for those reasons but because it will be a lot of hanging round and not much fun for kids.

TidyDancer · 15/04/2011 18:54

Age is a factor, but tbh it would probably be a no from me anyway. I will watch the wedding, but hanging around in a hot stuffy crowd for a five second glance of the couple doesn't sound like a child's idea of fun.

Original poster
Wormshuffler · 15/04/2011 18:54

They are 11 and 9 and we plan to go to the big screens at Hyde park. I did mention the idea of just myself and my DH going but he said that wouldn't be fair. I just don't know what to do....

OP posts:
yousankmybattleship · 15/04/2011 18:57

I really wouldn't worry about terrorism - after all if you did you'd never go anywhere. Doesn't sound like much fun for the childrne though - couldn't you watch it on telly and make a fun party tea instead?

GypsyMoth · 15/04/2011 18:57

hey worm!!

i'm going too with my teens and some of their friends are coming.....we hope to head for the mall area

i used to be in police in london and often policed trooping of the colour,marathon etc. believe me,security will be tight

i worry a little too about terrorists tho. cant help it!!

GypsyMoth · 15/04/2011 18:58

it will be fine for the kids....just being in london and seeing everything. mine always love it,even though we have done london many times

grovel · 15/04/2011 19:07

It will be a memory and MAGPIE will be out in force against THRUSH.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 15/04/2011 19:12

Go and enjoy yourselves. It will be great fun.

bonkers20 · 15/04/2011 19:17

No comment on terrorism, but as for being bored, one of my most prominent memories of days out is when we spontaneously decided to go and see the Pope when he visited the UK in 1980 (?) when I was 9.
We drove from Norfolk to York and back in a day. I remember seeing the Popemobile and not alot else, but the thrill of the event is still with me today (not in a holy way, just..well you know).
I think your children will have a lovely time and will thank you for making the effort.

hairfullofsnakes · 15/04/2011 19:18

It's not the terrorists that would worry me but them getting really tired and the fact that there will be big crowds everywhere. I would personally find it very stressful taking kids to an event like that with long travel and crowds

headfairy · 15/04/2011 19:21

I went to Charles and Diana's wedding in 81 as it was my birthday that day (11th) and I don't remember being tired, I dont' remember much at all actually, don't think they had big screens in those days. My biggest memory is of the fireworks the night before.

I wouldn't worry about terrorism, you can't live your life cowering behind closed doors. Take a packed lunch, comfy shoes and Hyde Park is definitely your best option. You can at least sit on the grass when tired.

MikeOxstiff · 15/04/2011 19:43

I wish I was going

crazygracieuk · 15/04/2011 19:47

I'd be worried about the weather being too hot or rainy.

Original poster
Wormshuffler · 15/04/2011 19:59

I'm also now thinking logistically, what happens if we need a wee?

OP posts:
MrsDaffodill · 15/04/2011 20:01

OK, at nine and eleven and heading to Hyde Park rather than the route may well be OK. Don't know about wees. We went to the Jubilee event and I am guessing there were portaloos but I don't know remember.

MrsDaffodill · 15/04/2011 20:10

Should add that two of our group completely lost us at the Jubilee celebrations and that our mobile phones DID NOT WORK, so we never found them. Something to do with all the TV broadcasting, I think.

So if you do go, make sure you have a clear back up plan of where and when everyone should meet. And everyone should have a watch on. And maybe mark the "meet up" point on the map so a lost child could show it to any police if they cannot find it themselves.

When we watched the Jubilee thing until everyone was sat down (which was very near the start of the concert), the crowd did these weird surges forward which meant that we had to suddenly move ourselves and our belongings as well. It may not be the same, but maybe think about taking things which you can easily move along with you. We nearly lost our picnic at one point!

GypsyMoth · 15/04/2011 20:13

there should be portaloos....mcdonalds?

theres a pay toilet near westminster abbey but guessing ther will be a loooong queue!!lol

we were planning on lunch at a takeout place....anywhere really

i'm taking 16/17 year old girls who giggle at EVERYTHING....we are all supposed to be dressing in red/white/blue with flags and wigs and a banner of some sort.

Original poster
Wormshuffler · 15/04/2011 20:16

I'm getting excited now!! whatever happens Me and DH will go, still undecided about the kids, I will buy the train tickets and keep thinking about it, Thanks everyone

OP posts:
issey6cats · 15/04/2011 22:10

im hoping the weather will be nice and sunny that day cos am planning a day out at mallam cove it will be blissfully empty

MaureenMLove · 15/04/2011 22:16

Take them! They are not babies, you don't need to worry about pushchairs or feeding them at alloted times of the day, you can easily take food or sweets to keep them going.

Enjoy the experience. If it looks like rain, then pack a mac, if it looks like sunshine, then take the suntan lotion!

You'll regret not letting them in on the fun, imho. Don't go without them!

midnightexpress · 15/04/2011 22:17

Oh headfairy, I was at the fireworks before Charles and Diana's wedding - they were ace! The main thing I remember was seeing Ronald and Nancy Reagan trying to get through the crowds in their car on Park Lane with lots of nervous looking 'secret' service men running along beside them. It must have only been a few months after he got shot so I guess they were a bit twitchy.

OP, just take them if you want to be there. Don't fret about the terrorists.

Mandy2003 · 15/04/2011 22:27

Me and my 8mths pg friend got "kettled" by the in Hyde Park during Prince Charles's wedding celebrations in 1981. Definitely not enjoyable.

Then by the time we escaped there was either no public transport running, or no-one was being allowed access to it so we had to walk from Hyde Park to Highbury. Quite a few miles, not good.