Will I be allowed to join the accessible queuing system?

[InvisibleDisability]

I really want to see the lying in state in London as a sign of my respect for her majesty. I’ve been watching all coverage on TV and her dedication and loyalty to us all has been making me frankly emotional. I feel the least I can do to honour her is to brave the crowds and the conditions to see her lying in state.

However… I have (several) invisible disabilities including POTS and ME/CFS. These mean I get tired easily and when I overdo it am prone to collapsing. However, I’m willing to risk it for this last chance to pay my respects. Do you think I would qualify for the accessible queuing system? Would I need to bring “proof” of disability? I’ve got my PIP paperwork if that’s needed?

note: the guidance has just been released on gov website announcing the queuing route and the accessible queuing scheme which is much shorter and will operate on a ticketing basis. By all accounts you turn up at Tate Britain to get a timed ticket (nor guaranteed as depends on numbers I guess) then you go to the palace for the set time?

Hello : to directly answer your question, there are lots of ‘chaperones’ for the accessible queue in the Hall (was there last night), so I think if they felt your child would cause disturbance they would suggest you not go in BUT in a very quiet and polite way

However, I think you would probably be ok as you are really only in the hall for 2-5 minutes and would have the opportunity to get your children into the right frame of mind as the chaperones seem v kind/attentive & caring and the area around is v peaceful

One idea that might help is to show your children footage of the live steam before hand so they know what to expect & what other people will be doing? It’s a quiet and uncrowded room, the accessible entrance/exit are to a side so you don’t have to cross/interact with lots of people

• should have said - i think, I don’t know as I’m not involved in organising/this is just my expectation from being in the ‘general’ queue & observing (and asking one other visitor with a mobility issue her experience of the accessible queue to see if it was possible for my DM

Also, I think the ‘expectation’ would only be for the couple of minutes in the hall, not when you are getting there/security etc: the chaperones seemed v kind /attentive (chased after the lady I was talking to so she didn’t accidentally walk out the long way 😀)

I saw some quite small children in the hall but they were v quiet and mum explained what they were looking at to them : it’s about 2 mins unless you are lucky and are paused due to a guard change which would make it about 5 mins - I think about 10 pc chance of that

Really need some help with this. I'm completely lost on what to do.

I really want to go, this is a big thing in our history and I have the upmost respect for the Queen.

But because of my weight (30st) and not being able to walk far, I doubt I'd be able to handle the physical side of it. I am working on my fitness levels, but I can't walk more than 15-30 meters without having to stop / sit down. I also have mental health issues that would be affected by attending, such as social anxiety. It's not just being in the event, but also the level of people that will be there. I struggle with anything more than 5 ish people in an area at once. Although, I've recently pushed this to around 15 people by attending a local mental health group.

Even getting there, I've checked flights, it's affordable but how busy the airport and other areas, would be even puts me off.

Officially on the long term sick.
Don't have any sort of disability badge or blue badge.
Living in the North East, UK.

Think it's worth me going? Or should I just settle for watching the funeral via tv on Monday? (And continue to watch the live stream / follow the events).

Even typing this has caused an anxiety attack... ha! :/

Also, am I even allowed on here? (as I'm male?). You know, 'mums' net... ?

Thank you for reading,
Gary

@weddingDecliner finding your posts so helpful. Do you know what the parking restrictions are on the weekend at all? Dh js thinking of taking my dmum with mobility issues caused by Alzheimer’s along possibly early Saturday morning. She has a blue badge so can show proof if needed.

@Gary - I can’t say anything about the airport but weight issues are mobility issues, I think you would be more than ok to use the accessibility route and it should be manageable for you and a supportive atmosphere

PS - @GaryHolmes -you would only be in the hall for 2-5 minutes and it’s not crowded. Maybe look at the live feed of what to expect

My attitude is: if it’s too much you can turn back & go home, if you never go you might regret it. Do you have a friend/relative who could travel with you, that would make it a lot more manageable. I think a LOT of people would go if they had company so it’s worth asking your friends and family if they would join you

Ok, great. Thank you for your reply :)

Yea, watching the live feed for the past couple of hours ish. It looks really crowded. Not sure where the disabled route is on there though, think it will just be everyone goes in the same area? Idk.

Side note, it's an amazing thing to watch

i posted the signs earlier . You can also park in the resident bays on Saturday however they are fuller than usual as some are suspended . You can also park on single yellow but there isn’t much of that

We were thinking of getting there around 3am. Are many people still joining?

Can I just say you are all amazing and have helped so many people - @weddingDecliner your updates have been utterly invaluable.

thought I would pass along the favour. We got to the queue at around 11:30 tonight, queued for about twenty minutes.

the time we were given is 12-1tomorrow afternoon. The stewards were saying there was a sky news feature on the accessibility line and it has exploded. If you joined the normal queue now you would get in at around 9am. Accessibility queue was quite a bit longer when we left.

there is a bag drop off, a place inside and outside to wait. Felt so so bad for people that clearly had restricted mobility that were now having to wait to the morning. Stewards are all absolutely lovely, super chatty and kind rushing to help.

the kiosk told us parents are being allowed in with a child for anyone asking.

they are not asking for any documentation for anyone on this thread concerned.

There were still quite a few people joining when i left for my timeslot at 00:30 and they were handing out slots for 15-16:00 at that time. So id say the earlier you get there the better to ensure you get a slot but expect to have to wait around for many hours until its your time to head to the hall.

Hmm, on that basis, it seems like they’ll probably run out of slots today.

I wanted to come up on Sunday but can only come for the day. Looks like I won't be able to get a same day slot now.

Sadly I suspect the system is being abused if the fact that they aren't asking for proof has got out.

I agree. But then you have the problem that not everyone will have proof. And some of us don't want to carry around PIP letters because of the personal information on them.

Thanks for the thread. So it seems that if you could walk it, it would be faster to join the normal queue. My son gets mid rate mobility and care dla and I could take up his DLA letter but it seems the accesable queue is too long now.

Hello my disabled son asked if he could go to London this weekend to see the Queen lying in state. As he is unable to stand/walk for long periods of time I said we couldn’t. However I have just found this thread and we are now hoping to go this Sunday!
I have a couple of questions please if anyone could answer I would be grateful.
Would my sons blue badge be sufficient to prove his disability?
When we arrive in London how do we find the disability ‘ticket’ office?
Is there anything else I need to know/tips etc?
thank you so much for your help :)

Hoping to go to the accessibility queue this afternoon. Would that mean tickets would only be possible for tomorrow 😬

you don't need proof but take your blue badge if you want
the accessible queue is at the tate britain

You don't get asked for "proof" just a name but bb would be fine. A carer can accompany him. You need to head for the Tate Britain gallery on the bank of the Thames to get a wristband with a timed entry slot then along to Westminster to join a queue for security at the allotted time. No food,liquids, sweets, phones etc allowed after security.

I really wouldn't wait till Sunday if possible, although you could be lucky. At some point there will be a cut off, today and tomorrow will be super busy as people get off work. The Queen is in state till Monday morning.

The info on the web says that those in the accessibility queue can only have one carer / companion but my two daughters want to go - one who has additional needs/ life long disabilities and one who doesn’t (and is only 7). Am I allowed to join the accessibility queue with them both? Otherwise, we basically can’t go as my other daughter wouldn’t make it through the other queue. Has anyone been through already in the same situation?

Also, any update on how things are looking now?

I think it was said further upthread, that children are not being counted as adults? So your 7 year old might be overlooked and counted as an additional person, if you see what I mean? That would mean your daughter could go in with you as a carer and your 7 year old as a 'non-person'. Sorry sounds horrible.

But hopefully someone else can corroborate this.

Hi, I had surgery last week to remove my gallbladder (keyhole but still classed as a major op). I'm gutted I won't be able to stand for the 10 or so hours, but I cannot find anywhere a contact number or email to ask if I would be eligible for the accessibility queue? I'm got my surgery discharge letter and the bandages to prove it!
Any ideas on how to move forward?

I would just turn up with some sort of proof - hospital letter or something and go to the DQ and ask. I reckon you'd get in. Gallbladder removal is quite serious.