Are you observing a minute's silence today at 3pm?

[Frownette]

Curious!

YABU - NO
YANBU - YES

(I couldn't see a thread on this so apols if there is one and I missed it)

Frankly at that age you're doing well if you can still breathe, identify your own family by name and wipe your own arse

Yes, isn't it extraordinary what a life free from financial concerns and with personal chefs on tap do for health and longevity.

@kimchidreams
She will never abdicate as saw how her uncle's abdication affected her father.
Maybe she did fewer public engagements in 2019 but I think if you count up the many thousands over the years she has been Queen then she has done her bit.

There is no point trawling over the life of luxury and privilege for it comes with many down sides as well which many of you either won't or can't see past.

I guess we will all have to agree to disagree. Or don't they do that on MN?

The point I was making @Thedogscollar is that she does have options. She doesn’t have to do this, she chooses to do it.

She's not like you or I, duty comes before everything

No the preservation of the monarchy does. Make no mistake.

There is no point trawling over the life of luxury and privilege for it comes with many down sides as well which many of you either won't or can't see past

Oh I wouldn't choose her life for anything, precisely because of the downsides. But the privilege she enjoys is entirely relevant when people are speaking about how much she works. There is a huge correlation between poverty and ill health and reduced life expectancy.

@PrelovedWithValue

There is no point trawling over the life of luxury and privilege for it comes with many down sides as well which many of you either won't or can't see past

Oh I wouldn't choose her life for anything, precisely because of the downsides. But the privilege she enjoys is entirely relevant when people are speaking about how much she works. There is a huge correlation between poverty and ill health and reduced life expectancy.

Even the wealthy middle class pensioners who have spent their lives in professional jobs - the ones I know anyway - have given up work a long time before they get to 94.

I completely forgot. In fairness I was cleaning my Nan's flat as she passed away last month

@seashells11

She's not like you or I, duty comes before everything

No the preservation of the monarchy does. Make no mistake.

Same thing.

No. I hot footed it out of Tesco at 2.56pm because I'm not comfortable with things like that in public. I can sit in my house or car in silence with my thoughts.

There is no point trawling over the life of luxury and privilege for it comes with many down sides as well which many of you either won't or can't see past

There's probably a down side to every job going but in the Queens case the benefits far outweigh them. Everything is done for her.

@Kimchidreams
I honestly don't think she views her role as a choice. She has taken it very seriously for over 70 years now.

Anyway I think the RF will be a slimmed down version once Charles becomes King.

It has endured for centuries I feel it will continue for many more.

I didn’t know there was one, I turned my car radio on and thought it was broken 😂

Alsohuman not really,the preservation of the monarchy is self serving, for "duty of the country" implies for selfless reasons.

@seashells11

Alsohuman not really,the preservation of the monarchy is self serving, for "duty of the country" implies for selfless reasons.

If she’d been self serving she’d have walked away from the crown. Life as a country lady with her dogs and horses would have suited her fine. Margaret would have killed for it, now that would have been self serving writ large.

No

Even the wealthy middle class pensioners who have spent their lives in professional jobs - the ones I know anyway - have given up work a long time before they get to 94

And I bet not one of them has staff to deal with literally everything else that needs dealt with.

That's hardly comparing like with like, now, is it.

No

Posters are jealous of an old dead man? Sad times.

What an odd thought.

[quote HamAndButterSandwich]@Ginuwine Most people have said they won't personally be observing the silence. This is absolutely fine, they'll behave as they would when other people they have very little connection to die. it's not for you to dictate when people take a moment to think or be mindful.

When important people die who's work touched my life I do tend to feel sad and want to show some respect. Not everyone will be touched by the same people. I don't expect them to be. Most of us simply don't have the capacity to stop our lives or mourn every single time an important person dies. Prince Philip certainly won't be upset that some strangers are getting on with their day.[/quote]

He wouldn't be upset that people are getting on with their day - I think he'd prefer it

I just find the rush to state one's independence on here in creative sweary and haughty ways quite amusing that's all. Well done for not "conforming", all!

38PrelovedWithValue

Even the wealthy middle class pensioners who have spent their lives in professional jobs - the ones I know anyway - have given up work a long time before they get to 94

Yep just shows what a life of privilege, with private doctors, servants and the best of everything does for you.

Yes. He served our country and our Queen for over 70 years; I consider it the least we can do. And I’m not a monarchist

Why should we ‘do’ anything? He hasn’t done anything that has benefited me or my family or my friends. He’s done nothing to ‘serve’ us. So I don’t feel I owe him anything.

I find all the sneering “no, I didn’t know him/don’t care” posts downright disrespectful actually. It speaks volumes about the priorities of the people of this country today

127,000 families have lost a loved one this year, many people have lost jobs, have had their mental health ruined, have lost schooling and have worries of their own. People who are struggling to get by often have little empathy to spare for very very wealthy people who’ve lived a long and priviliged life. So I suppose it does say something about priorities, but when you’re living day to day those ARE your priorities.

We’ve all suffered losses and heartbreak in one form or another over our lives, especially this year; the silence gives us all a chance to come together as a country and remember them all, which I for one welcome

But it’s not to remember all those people is it? It’s to ‘honour’ some guy most of us have never met and know nothing about.

The queen Chooses to still work at 94. No ones making her.

Yep just shows what a life of privilege, with private doctors, servants and the best of everything does for you

Exactly. No stress about underperforming in your job, about not making financial ends meet, about the cost of housing, worrying about your kids schooling or healthcare, transport costs or even funeral costs. You don't have to retire early if you are not doing a stressful job.

The queen Chooses to still work at 94. No ones making her

Exactly - there is an unemployed apprentice of 70+ years and even another unemployed apprentice to the apprentice. Utter farce.