AIBU to think the RHS didn't need to close immediately and boot everyone out as a mark of respect?

[SurreyMumOfOne]

As a mark of respect to Prince Philip, the RHS have decided to close all of their gardens immediately today. Any people already inside have been herded out. Tickets are incredibly difficult to get hold of because they are so limited at the moment. There are reports on social media of families using it as a place to meet (as permitted) who haven't seen each other for a year now having to leave; no covid safe measures at the exit; traffic tailbacks as people arriving are being turned immediately away. Lots of upset and confusion.

They have also said they will close on the day of the funeral and I have no issue with this.

AIBU to think this is an ill thought through and unnecessary move? Surely there are better ways to show respect? What about respect for the visitors?

That is a bit of a shame, and I struggle to see how it shows respect.

Bloody ridiculous.

If true it seems a rather extreme reaction.

That’s ridiculous.

I agree it's OTT as we are not in National Mourning.

That's the level of response I would expect only on the death of the monarch, and only during formal mourning

Seems an odd thing to do.

Yanbu. That's ridiculous if that's why.

I imagine Prince Phillip would find this ridiculous also.

He was a great believer in the power of the outdoors and didn't appear to stand for a lot of pomp and circumstance.

What grumpysausage said.

That’s a ridiculous and unfair response by the RHS.

Well I’ve just had my arse comprehensively handed to me over this on the ‘official’ Prince Philip thread so I’m a tad reluctant to get involved in another one, other than saying YANBU.

It may have been intended as a mark of respect to Philip but I agree that it shows very little respect for their paying members and guests, and was generally very ill thought through. Also counter-productive given how careful they’ve been previously with Covid measures etc - herding everyone towards the exit at once etc.

Fine with the closure for the funeral as there are was due notice given. Hope they plan to refund ticket holders though.

You’d think they’d need the money after being significantly disrupted for the best part of a year with no real end date to that.

Absolutely ridiculous. I hope everyone who was made to leave is refunded by the end of the day.

That’s bonkers and so unfair.

The complete opposite of honouring his memory really!

(Should’ve known better than to argue with a bunch of arch-royalists really )

He has died. RIP. Why does the garden need to shut? Madness. Plus - why do we need blanket coverage of the news on every channel saying the same thing?

That's utterly bonkers and I'd be demanding a refund.

Prince Philip would also probably be furious that people were being prevented from accessing the gardens.

I'm also utterly confused as to how it is possibly a mark of respect. Close on the day of the funeral absolutely fine but to shut today, surely it's just virtue signalling.

I can understand closing on the day of the funeral but it seems bonkers to turf people out today who were already there

What an undignified situation to create

What??? Wow, this is absolutely ridiculous. Whoever made that decision should be sacked!!

Absurd. I'm not sure how upsetting/disappointing a load of people by kicking them out shows respect. Defies logic.

Completely ridiculous. Closing from tomorrow possibly, and starting to put signs today, but turfing people out? It's embarrassing.

Weird. They sound stuck in a time warp that no one else is in.

Seems like an over reaction to me.

@GrumpySausage l completely agree with you

That's awful.