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?

Apparently it's 21 gun salute plus 20 when fired from a royal park.

www.thefocus.news/education/what-is-a-41-gun-salute/

@QuidditchQueen wins the thread.

@QuidditchQueen

Just wondering what types of establishment will turf out punters when Andy goes.

Pizza Hut for sure.

Abraxan That's interesting. I've never heard of 41 before.

Argh the dirge on 6 music ffs!!!

I think to be honest Prince Phillip would be having a good chuckle at us all now. Probably calling us bloody idiots.

Yes he always a rude, condescending arse wasn’t he?

@StoneofDestiny

Exiled as a baby in an orange box, parents divorced and mother in mental institution, older sister and family dying in plane crash, saw combat in WW2, forced to abandon career he lived to support the Queen. Yep, life absolute bed of roses

These aren't achievements!
Yep, he served in WW2 - as did millions of others did. Many millions died in WW2 and collectively they get 2 minutes silence! Millions more were maimed and scarred for life. As for 'forced to abandon his career to support his wife' - have you any idea just how many people have to do that as their partner is chronically disabled? Have you any idea how the country 'rewards' them for that 'sacrifice'?

The man was an out an out racist, an embarrassment to the country he was supposed to represent. He 'gave up his career' to live in complete luxury at taxpayers expense, able to follow his expensive hobbies at will. He was anything but housebound by his 'sacrifice' and more often than not showed utter contempt for the people and places he visited.

He died at 99 - a long life by any bodies standards. He didn't die of overwork or from going without. Let's not cover reality with propaganda.

THIS ^

I sympathise with the queen and I'm sure she'll miss him very much, but PP was NOT a saint!

He led a life of wealth and privilege, he was frustrated by having to play second fiddle - but that was because he wasn't prepared to be second fiddle to anyone.

(And didn't he once say that when he died he wanted to come back as a virus to destroy the human race?) Yes - he could be charming, but he could also be very selfish.

He was (as most of us are) a flawed individual. He had good points and bad, but by anyone's standards he had a wonderful, amazing and fulfilling life. He wanted for nothing.

Just wait till Operation London Bridge happens.
They will force us all to wear black and weep at home

@Replays - I noticed too!

No respite from mandatory glumness

Turned the television news on earlier. Apparently there's nothing else happening in the world.

How much can you say about one person's life?

I sincerely hope this isn't going on for the entire time until the funeral, and no doubt it'll go on for weeks afterwards.

How ridiculous. Yet another complete overreaction.

Hampton Court gardens did the same yesterday.

We went today and when I checked the page for parking and saw the notice about them being closed yesterday my eyes nearly popped out of my head. It's an hour each way for us with a toddler. I would have been apoplectic if we had been booked for yesterday.

Utterly ridiculous.

Hampton Court is at least a Royal Palace and part of the Estate
but I hope that the Courtiers update the guidance for the future

Just wondering what types of establishment will turf out punters when Andy goes

Brothels.

Oh bugger. Wanted to go to see Hampton Tulips.
Please what days are they planning on closing? Which day is the actual funeral? The website hasn't been updated to show which days it's closing.

Just looked. Hampton is closed next Saturday.

@Oblomov21

Just looked. Hampton is closed next Saturday.

Funeral day. So now I suppose all sorts of places will close for the day - after a right old year of closing it's just bonkers.

@StoneofDestiny

Just wondering what types of establishment will turf out punters when Andy goes

Brothels.

Pizza Hut in Woking will close.

@Oblomov21

Just looked. Hampton is closed next Saturday.

Royal Palaces being shut on the day of a Royal funeral makes sense. Other venues less so

The RHS were being ridiculous but then again they are being run by a load of old farts! Was a great friend of someone who used to work for them and this was her standard excuse for all their dodgy decisions of which there were many.

I'd have had more sympathy for the RHS if they had shut the tills on the shops