To be saddened by the behaviour of the public

[diligesmore]

In regards to the Queen’s coffin in Edinburgh. As it makes its way through the city the public have their phones out so blatantly and some with smiles on their faces.

Similarly, people shoved their phones in Charles’ face when he greeted the crowd outside Buckingham Palace.

Haven’t we lost our way a bit? Do they really need a photo or video when they should just be kind, present and respectful?

I hated the clapping so much.

To me clapping means you are pleased. Why would anyone be pleased to see a coffin go by, nevermind one containg the late Queen!

I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Some people seem to feel the need to document the minutiae of their lives. It's almost as though if they haven't got something to post on FB/Insta/whatever, it didn't happen.

A bit like there's always been a class of people who pay off the victims of their sons that's abused under aged girls,

If you want disgusting behaviour, go and stand outside Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam at the height of tourist season. Hoards of (I'm sorry to say it) young women preening and "sexy" posing next to the plaque of her name.

Nope 🙂

I doubt the coffin cares, so that particular aspect wouldn’t bother me - I expect most people are there to see the spectacle, not to pay their respects.

At the actual death announcement though, no that is quite wrong and disrespectful.

I used to collect postcards of areas where I had lived. It was a great social history collection. Going back 100 years or so, the local photographers used to rush over when there had been an accident, death, fire etc, take a photo and turn it into a postcard immediately. Then the local people, within a few days of the event, used to send postcards to families etc. I had one of a fire which had killed two people being used as the postcard to ask the local "vet" to come the next day to castrate the pig. I had postcards of prisoners of war working in fields, a crashed aircraft with what looked like the pilot still inside, various fires, collapsed buildings etc. It was the strangest thing. Anyway - it appears to me to be a more modern take on what used to happen a century ago.

I admit that the other day when Charles first arrived back in London I was surprised that he was smiling at everyone. I would have thought he might look more sombre.

So in that way the crowd's behaviour, being jolly and upbeat about welcoming him and waving, smiling at him taking pictures of him etc isnt out of place.

When past royals executed by beheading had the indignity of the public dipping handkerchiefs in their blood.
Margaret Poole was decapitated by the queen's ancestors in her nineties and the axman was so inadequate she was butchered in a painful and humiliating spectacle, which the public no doubt relished.

That's what I call a real tragic death, not a ninety plus year old dying surrounded by the best healthcare and comfort money can buy.

So no,.people have not changed, they just have smartphones now.

Is this the duck lipped pouty thing?

I think some young women dont know any other pose/look.

Its beyond them to simply look normal

Yes I found this uncomfortable to watch. I would much prefer them flying little union jacks than shoving the phones in his face. I respect those that didn’t have the phones, they seem to be there for the right reasons, to meet the King and pay respects rather than just take photos. Also there was a woman there being asked what she thought of him and she’s like “yeah I like Charlie” repeatedly kept calling him Charlie on camera. I’m not even a royalist but people should be respectful if they choose to be there.

Oh come on, that is hilarious! Like something David Brent would do.

I always cringe when I see a sea of mobile phones. Those people are just sheep.

I outed myself as an old fogey today by having a bit of a rant about the footage of the cortege going through Dundee.
Not a bowed head, hats still on heads and phones out, no effort made in appearance.
If you are there to pay your respects, Bloody well show some.

But the history in the making is being recorded by the news outlets anyway. There will be
Photos of her coffin in the hearse online for anyone to see. Why need a photo?

i agree - I had the exact same thought watching all the crowds. Some people clapped but the majority it was just fucking phones out

Why are they parading her coffin around then if they don’t want people to look at it?

Noted a real decline in manners / etiquette since lockdown. A sense of entitlement, their thoughts, actions are what matters.

Absolutely agree. I don't think the British public is as polite as many think they are, and it's really, really declined since 2020.

Yep same.

It's not a tragic death like Diana.
I think people are happy in a thank you ma'am way?

They feel more celebration of her amazing life and service?

They're talking about cameras on ITV , Andrew Marr said something like people don't see the world in 3d anymore, even Charles said about living in the moment and not taking photos.

Isn't it clap for the queen tomorrow night at 7?

Because it's showtime! Everything is now grist to the entertainment mill. And a royal funeral is also part of the entertainment industry. Even the Empire State Building had to sparkle in purple and silver, the christ statue in Rio was lit up red, white and blue...and no doubt many more public buildings across the world were part of the bandwagon too. The main actors will play their carefully choreographed parts, and the rabble get the chance to perform in their own reality show

Glad it's not just me. I think it's lovely that people have come out to pay respects - but so many ruin it by turning it into an Insta-moment! To me it is inappropriate and the correct thing to do in that moment is to quietly and respectfully acknowledge the coffin going past - perhaps a bow of the head if so inclined - but it is NOT a moment for getting your phone out - just put your phone away and take in things with your eyes and minds - surely the whole point of being there in person is to witness it in person - not through a screen.

Some of the behaviour I've seen makes me think of it as a modern day equivalent of the people who used to turn out to watch executions centuries ago - and who would pelt the prisoners with veg etc... that mob mentality turning someone's tragic moment into their entertainment.

Re Charles but surely it's natural to feel happy and sad at the same time?
It's pretty obvious he's been crying nearly every day? His eyes are misty and red , but he obviously feels cheered by the support he has from the public?

After all it's been hotly debated for such a long time about whether he should even be king .

It's a sad time but also a transitional time and I don't see anything yet that's disrespectful.
Imagine if he was booed and jeered??

Ahh. I saw some shit about this clap for the queen on Facebook. Complete with poor grammar and spelling mistakes inviting people to ‘clap for are queen on you’re door step’.