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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Edinburgh vigil

29 replies

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:17

Just caught the last few minutes of this on tv, I found it very difficult to watch. I felt so sorry for HMQ's children standing around her coffin while members of the public filed by gawking. I know they say they were paying respects but I couldn't have stood there watching if it was my parent.

OP posts:
Oopsilot · 12/09/2022 20:39

YANBU. Uncomfortable viewing.
I turned off.

Nitgel · 12/09/2022 20:41

Cameras were too close but it was incredibly moving.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 12/09/2022 20:42

Turn your goddamn phone off!

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:44

MooseBeTimeForSnow I didn't have my phone on.

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userxx · 12/09/2022 20:45

There's a photo of it online, awful. All those people just wandering through having a nosy.

Soproudoflionesses · 12/09/2022 20:45

Just messaged my friend with exactly this. Felt like they were in a goldfish bowl, tv cameras doing close ups of their faves and the public looking at the too. Had to switch it off.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 12/09/2022 20:47

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:44

MooseBeTimeForSnow I didn't have my phone on.

Sorry. Not you - all the folks filing through - text messages, alarms etc. All sorts of pings and alarms.

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:47

I switched off too, it made me feel sick. I'm not a massive royalist but the lack of privacy at times like this is so sad for them.

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charabang · 12/09/2022 20:48

It was very uncomfortable.It felt archaic and cruel.

littlepiecesofnothing · 12/09/2022 20:48

it’s the nature of funerals being ritualistic and very much based on tradition. Uncomfortable but then so is death and all that goes with her

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:49

MooseBeTimeForSnow sorry, I misunderstood.

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SallyWD · 12/09/2022 20:50

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:47

I switched off too, it made me feel sick. I'm not a massive royalist but the lack of privacy at times like this is so sad for them.

But didn't they want to do it? I read its a royal tradition but has only actually happened a couple of times. They dont always do it so I'm pretty sure they chose to in this case. Also they only did it for 10 mins so it was quite a short ordeal.

Poppyblush · 12/09/2022 20:50

It’s a tradition which started in 1937 when four siblings chose to stand vigil for the king (?) and has happened ever since.

crumpet · 12/09/2022 20:51

The people wandering through “having a nosy” had queued for 8-12 hours. They wanted to pay their respects. I didn’t see the phones etc, but that’s not on if that was the case.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 12/09/2022 20:53

It’s voluntary, isn’t it?

I didn’t watch but feeling sick is a bit strong just because you don’t like, or can’t relate to, someone else’s mourning ritual.

Georgeskitchen · 12/09/2022 20:55

They were paying their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth. They will do it again when she reaches London. It may seem.strange to us mere mortals and must be difficult for the family but they surely must be heartened by the huge outpouring of love and respect to Her Majesty.
My son is there in the queue in Edinburgh having served Her Majesty for 15 years x

Daftarchie · 12/09/2022 20:56

No phones were allowed

Goatling · 12/09/2022 20:56

I know a lot of it's tradition but I just think it's awful how every single thing is made public, it reminds me of the two Princes following Dianas coffin at her funeral. All the close ups of their faces etc, it's their Mum for goodness sake.

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Topgub · 12/09/2022 20:58

Meh.

I dont feel bad for them in the slightest.

No one is forcing them to do it. And they are well paid in return.

alfagirl73 · 12/09/2022 21:02

The vigil was part of the plan for some time and the family were aware of it. Earlier on, people filed past and gave a little head bow to the Queen - which is what it's supposed to be - 1 second - quick bow to show respect and move on quietly. The people filing past later were doing it like they would if they were visiting a tourist attraction and I did hear a couple of phones going off as well - but don't get me started on the phones thing. Possibly they just didn't know what to do when they got in there... but it looked more like they were visiting an exhibit than paying respects to the late Queen, which was uncomfortable to watch.

SallyWD · 12/09/2022 21:02

Poppyblush · 12/09/2022 20:50

It’s a tradition which started in 1937 when four siblings chose to stand vigil for the king (?) and has happened ever since.

That's not true I'm afraid. Yes it started then I'm 1937 but has only ever been repeated once when the Queen mother died. I just read this on the BBC news.

aweegc · 12/09/2022 21:05

Goodness, just seen that now. I'd assumed that there'd be a photo of them standing vigil and then they'd be left alone. I mean the people at the front of the queue had been there all day. A 10 minute wait wouldn't have been that big a deal. Or even to have had the public but no TV cameras. 10 mins without the Queen's funeral wouldn't be that much hardship for the BBC.

I think it'll be different in Westminster because it's bigger. St Giles is big but not when you add everything that's going on there now.

Goatling · 12/09/2022 21:06

Maybe I'm too sensitive, sorry about that.

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ihatesoaps · 12/09/2022 21:15

Topgub · 12/09/2022 20:58

Meh.

I dont feel bad for them in the slightest.

No one is forcing them to do it. And they are well paid in return.

That's nasty

Topgub · 12/09/2022 21:21

@ihatesoaps

Oh behave.

It is not.

They dont deserve any more sympathy than any other family that have lost a very elderly member.

They've chosen to bring the circus. They dont get extra sympathy for that.