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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What do "Royalists" who dress up/camp out for days for glimpse of Royal Family get from it?

33 replies

Creambun2 · 19/05/2018 08:08

What do people really get from dressing up in tacky union jack suits and camping out for days to see glimpse of royal wedding and at other royal "celebrations"

People on the news saying they have been there for 4 days to get the best view.

Same with the idiots who camped out side the hospital when kate middleton was having her children.

Never understood people with this fascination. Most people I know are largely indifferent to the royal family.

OP posts:
GalwayWayfarer · 19/05/2018 08:10

Who cares? It's probably a joyful thing for them and they aren't hurting anyone. What's the harm in just letting people enjoy things?

Perfectway · 19/05/2018 08:12

I was just thinking the same. I have woken up feeling exhausted and I have been in a comfy bed all night. What would these people feel like having been out in the cold all night?

MagentaRocks · 19/05/2018 08:13

Patriotism. Different people like different things. No need to call people idiots. You wouldn’t want people sneering at things you like.

Personally it wouldn’t be my thing but I don’t judge people who enjoy it.

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 19/05/2018 08:13

Atmosphere

WeWere0nABreak · 19/05/2018 08:13

What do some people get out of posting the same unpleasant repetitive shite on mumsnet about anyone who dares to like different things or to vote differently to them?!

MarthaArthur · 19/05/2018 08:14

They enjoy it. They have fun doing it. They meet other like minded souls to enjoy it with. The atmosphere is joyful and nice they are excited at getting a glimpse of the royals. The news interviews them which is exciting for them. A whole host of reasons why people enjoy it. The world is a pretty bleak place with not a lot to look forward to. Let people enjoy things.

MarthaArthur · 19/05/2018 08:15

most people i know are largely indifferent to the royal family

Thats nice. Lots of people like them.

Creambun2 · 19/05/2018 08:16

@MarthaArthur how was your night camping in Windsor?

OP posts:
MarthaArthur · 19/05/2018 08:16

Im also finding on here,facebook and twitter the only people banging on about the royal wedding constantly are people saying they arent interested. Also today is a historical day. People want to be part of history.

MarthaArthur · 19/05/2018 08:17

Was great fun actually cheers

grasspigeons · 19/05/2018 08:17

its something to do isn't it?

I'm not fussed by the royal family but then when I think I live in a constitutional monarchy where the queen is the head of state and the head of the established church and we have an unelected house of lords where people from that established church get to vote on our laws. A country where the more or less the same set of landed gentry have pretty much owned most of the country and remained in the rich list for nearly 1000 years - it does sort of blow my mind a bit.

I know people who camp outside a bus manufacturer trying to spot the new bus as it goes out for delivery or queue for a day to get a product they can buy without a queue 24 hours later.

jaseyraex · 19/05/2018 08:18

They get enjoyment from it, whether you understand that or not is irrelevant. Why does it matter to you what people get from it?
There are better things to be moaning about in the world than people who really like the royal family!

ThenCameTheFools · 19/05/2018 08:19

Same as people who do other "niche" things that others don't.

I don't "get" shoes, or handbags, but have 250 bottles of perfume.
I don't "game" or watch endless boxed sets of US TV series and get devastated if someone "spoils" them
I don't watch, play, or support football.
I don't dress up as a Viking and run around the countryside.
I don't ride a Harley
I don't go to the opera

I get none of those things, but others do.
I'm not in the UK so am not outside Windsor Castle waving a flag. Nor would I be if I were.

Weren't there enough Royal Wedding threads for you OP?

PrincessoftheSea · 19/05/2018 08:19

I will miss the wedding as i am working today so will make sure i watch harry’s second wedding insteadWink

MarthaArthur · 19/05/2018 08:21

I dont understand extreme sports. Its dangerous you could get hurt. It costs a lot of money. It can be too cold or too hot. You could die. But i dont question why people do it. It looks fun and theres adrenaline. Its not for me but people love it.

thelonggame · 19/05/2018 08:21

They get enjoyment.
Why do you care enough to post on here about it?

MarthaArthur · 19/05/2018 08:22

I don't dress up as a Viking and run around the countryside

Ia this a thing?! Because i want to do this Grin

Creambun2 · 19/05/2018 08:23

@marthaarthur yep, but I don't have to fund other people's extreme sports hobby do I - as we pay for the Royal family people can criticise the institution as much as they want. If the royals don't like it then don't take public money.

OP posts:
TheOnlyLivingMumInNewCross · 19/05/2018 08:25

I've never camped but I lived very close to Windsor a few years ago. On DDs 7th birthday she found out that the Queen, William and Catherine were going to taking part in a procession for an official state visit and at the time loved Catherine due to the wedding.
We went along and froze! It cannot be put into words how freezing the castle side of Windsor High Street is in April. We thought we'd scored when we got there as the other side was rammed.
We stood for about two hours, she had a flag an elderly lady next to us who had camped out kindly gave her. She had been to many Royal events and actually she kerbed DDs boredom of standing and waiting by telling her about the things she had seen. You could tell it meant a great deal to the lady so I asked her why she camped and she said it was just what her generation did. In times of importance, they looked to the Royals.
DD enjoyed it immensely and because she was so little when the crowds were being let out from the barriers very slowly, a police officer picked her up and said she couldn't wait on her birthday (she had a badge on) and escorted us over the road to get hot chocolate. Only one woman moaned and the policeman told her, grinning at DD who by now was waving to the crowds, that DD was a relative of Princess Catherine and could she not see the resemblance.
To DD it was such a big thing, waving to the Queen and Catherine, talking to the lady and being treated so nicely. She's not in the least bit bothered about this wedding (far more interested in Chelsea playing later) but I know she still laughs about that particular birthday.

Oysterbabe · 19/05/2018 08:26

Obviously they find it fun and enjoy it, good luck to them. There's no need to be a dick about it.

thelonggame · 19/05/2018 08:28

are you really there MarthaArthur?
looks like a great atmosphere, anything that brings people together is a fantastic thing.
I don't get why the killjoys feel the need to be critical.

GalwayWayfarer · 19/05/2018 08:37

yep, but I don't have to fund other people's extreme sports hobby do I - as we pay for the Royal family people can criticise the institution as much as they want.

Fair enough, but you aren't criticising the royal family are you? You're criticising a bunch of normal people just because they're harmlessly doing something you wouldn't enjoy.

19lottie82 · 19/05/2018 08:43

What’s the difference to people queueing to see pop stars and the like?

Not one is hurting anyone, and if makes them happy, great! We all need a bit more happiness in the world Smile

NewYearNewMe18 · 19/05/2018 08:44

as we pay for the Royal family people can criticise the institution as much as they want.

Do we pay for them though? Really? The Queen must be the only person who hands 100% of her income to the state and takes back apoxy 15%, out of which she is expected to run the state functions, palaces, staffing costs, including salary, maternity pay, pensions . I cant see anyone else happy to work into their 90's and get taxed 85% - and have to put up with the levels of slander/libel and general vitrile that she, and the rest of them, do.

Xiaoxiong · 19/05/2018 08:46

Theonlylivingmum you're not wrong about the cold!! I let the dog out this morning and it was single digits. I think the stone stays colder for longer and cold air just rolls out of it like ice blocks. I considered taking the DSs to watch but it's just too packed - they see plenty of royal stuff usually so we'll leave this one to the super fans.

I understand why people do it - it makes them feel part of something bigger than themselves and a connection to history. To be able to say "I was there, I saw them as close as that". I was in town yesterday and it was quite fun, people chatting and laughing where usually they're just worrying about their parking running out and politely ignoring everyone else.

Our road is packed for 8.30am on a Saturday morning and I'm quite enjoying people watching out our front window myself!!