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?

@shouldistop - RHS is the Royal Horticultural Society, so basically various gardens. Wisley is the most well-known but there's also Rosemoor, Hyde Hall and a couple of others, and it looks like they've all done the same.
Madness and extremely ill-judged, especially given the pandemic and all the conditions around people not having been able to visit for so long. They'll have to compensate people in some way and god knows they'll have lost enough money this year, this is going to be as bad for them as for all the extremely disappointed visitors.

I expect there was a plan that was drawn up long before the pandemic and has not been adjusted by the RHS, even though the Duke of Edinburgh had been in hospital only a few weeks ago.

I agree that if you had asked him before his death, I doubt the Duke of Edinburgh would have wanted the closure to happen.

Completely ridiculous. Not even sure they need to close on the day of the funeral, or are we all supposed to stay at home and listen to it on the wireless?

What an OTT response, especially given the wider context with people not having been able to meet with family for such a long time, and not having many other places to go.

It is irritating.

Honestly after the year people have had don’t add to it.

Ridiculous.

We should honour his passing by standing on our doorsteps at 8pm and making an off colour racial remark.

It's what he would have wanted.

Tbh I'm sure that at some point Prince Philip would have approved the plans. But no doubt before Covid, and it probably said something generic like 'RHS Gardens will close' rather than 'we'll hustle people out the moment the announcement is made.'

It’s a great shame, and ill-judged. I understand the sentiment, but not thought through. It will reflect badly on the RHS :(

He was 99 ffs!

It’s hardly unexpected, I expect his family are sad but we are hopefully a bit passed having public mourning forced on us, as if it was still the 1900s.

However, this is the reason for next week’s 2 minute silence sorted out.

I was hoping to potter around ticking off my list of tasks accompanied by Shaun Keaveny's soothing insanity, this afternoon. Instead, every since BBC radio station is broadcasting the same dreary tripe.

This has been planned for years but really the public are in a different place now and hearing about civil servants downing tools etc and gardens closing is just too irritating atm.

Yeh, that's stooopid! Not like the Queen would have been doing a meet and greet out the back, watering the roses.

So much has changed since the queen mother died. I had a tv back then, and watched a tv, and kind of relied on a tv for news and entertainment. It was non stop for about ten days. The pomp and the ceremony, omg. I nearly went mad.

At least this time, we choose our own media platforms more. Have a screen and a chromecast but no 'tv' per se. Thank goodness.

@PickAChew

I was hoping to potter around ticking off my list of tasks accompanied by Shaun Keaveny's soothing insanity, this afternoon. Instead, every since BBC radio station is broadcasting the same dreary tripe.

I know I thought Alexa was letting me down it all sounded the same.

A silly overreaction as is the rolling coverage of absolutely nothing , by all these 'royal correspondents' on BOTH BBC1 and 2 !

I bet they've got their royal correspondents live at Windsor....as if they couldnt repeat what limited info they have (over and over again) just as easily in a studio.

I never understand when correspondents are live from....when they're just telling you what happened and theres no actual benefit to being there, or action going on. It was like when the prime minister was in hospital last year and they had reporters standing outside the hospital, shouting over the sound of ambulance sirens. They provided no extra info by being live st the scene!

RHS getting PASTED on Twitter

Thank goodness this didn't happen on Sunday. If they'd have cancelled Line of Duty I may seriously have lost my shit.

YANBU. That's bonkers.

@thecatsthecats

Ridiculous.

We should honour his passing by standing on our doorsteps at 8pm and making an off colour racial remark.

It's what he would have wanted.

This is a splendid idea.

And yes, closing anything because someone none of us knew has just died peacefully at the ripe old age of 99 is unhinged.

There is a picture of a black ribbon on Google.

@JenerationH

Screw the gardens closing, I've just found out that Pointless isn't on!

NOW I'M ANGRY!!!!!

Nor The CHASE.

Although Loose Women was cancelled, so every cloud...............

@JustJustWhy

Thank goodness this didn't happen on Sunday. If they'd have cancelled Line of Duty I may seriously have lost my shit.

The way to the public’s heart is an extra day holiday not making dc cry as they get re-bundled back into cars and playing drear on radio all day.

@MarshaBradyo

This has been planned for years but really the public are in a different place now and hearing about civil servants downing tools etc and gardens closing is just too irritating atm.

Civil servants AREN’T downing tools.

If you read properly, there’s less to be irritated about.