To worry that things will kick off in London this week?

[sunnydaytoday0]

By that I mean civil unrest? I certainly hope not but is it a worry given the simmering tension around things like peaceful protesters being warned they'd be arrested, people being reminded they're living in an incredibly unequal society during a cost of living crisis, the anger surrounding the police shooting of an unarmed man recently etc.

I image police officers are being drafted in from all over the country in near record numbers, but is anyone else worried a few heavy handed arrests over the next few days could actually tip the balance into serious disorder?

I bet the police will have a kit bag full of bolt cutters and glue dissolver ready for XR or any of that lot.

Oh dear. 😂

I most certainly do not see any potential for civil unrest in London next week in the week of the Queen's funeral.

However you do raise a valid point about simmering tensions on a variety of topics such as unfairness in wealth distribution, the country really not working post Covid, Scottish independence, Brexit fallout.

But what will really bring this to a head is the cost of living crisis, inflation and people particularly lower incomes being faced with a choice between heating and eating.

Although all this would not change and still be relevant if the Queen were alive I feel that her passing has meant the loss of a figurehead that portrayed and exemplified stability, continuity and unity which makes the current situation a lot worse.

If kind of feels that we are a historic point of wider change in society (not just who gets to succeed her) with her passing and different people will want different things to change in society which in itself will cause tension and quite possibly civil unrest.

I don’t think we’ll get that civil unrest people are predicting even after the funeral.

It’s been predicted many times on here but it’s easier to type than do

No, they would get dealt with by the British public anyway as per Edinburgh.

It'll be fine and all go smoothly, as these things nearly always do.

No need for glue dissolver just rip them off the pavement/road.

Thank goodness we've still got the Brexit dividend to cash in.

Royal blood women aren't that expected to be thin but marrying in one's are. Both Catherine and Meghan weigh considerably less than when they started dating/got engaged to the princes.

I think whatever your views on the monarchy or anything, a funeral is no place to protest out of respect to teh dead person and the family. Just like I think it’s westboro Baptist church or something in the US that goes to the funerals of service personnel to protest crap like anti gay marriage just to get on TV. It’s bollocks.

You are definitely not being unreasonable; it’s perfectly natural to be anxious when the heads of state of over 100 countries gather in one place. However, our wonderful late Queen was revered across the globe. Any terrorist group that exploited the opportunity to engage in aggressive action would instantly become global pariahs. Terrorist action would be political suicide. Anyone with half a brain would not want to alienate existing and potential supporters. I genuinely believe all will be well on Monday.

No.

Civil unrest usually coalesces around like-minded people. The majority of people on the streets in London on that day of the funeral will be sad for the Queen's demise and feeling a warm spirit of collectivism and community. Civil unrest won't happen on the streets of London.

The Queen wasn't a very divisive figure. Some people didn't admire her, but even some republicans said that she was all right. She didn't get people's hackles up, generally speaking.

I wouldn’t be surprised. I knew the Royal family’s popularity had decreased massively with the last 40 years of scandals but I’m still quite surprised at the amount of anti-Royal sentiment at the minute. And with the impact it’s having on things happening (my friend has had an appointment at the cancer clinic postponed from Monday to nearly a month away!) I think it’s getting worse. I saw England described as ‘MournHub’ on Twitter yesterday 😂

I'm sure some of 'that xr lot' are also royalists and probably in the queue

There are a lot of people who don’t support the idea of a Royal Family. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking everyone has the same views!!!!! Just because you and the people you know support the Royal Family it doesn’t mean that everyone does; many people loathe them and others are ambivalent.

Insular attitudes create pockets of arrogance, ignorance and arguably contribute towards a growing feeling in this country that marginalised groups don’t matter.

The Royal Family are born into and live with extreme wealth and privilege- many people in this country are quite frankly very poor, often through lack of opportunities and access to funds. Many work long hours and are paid very little.
Please educate yourself, look outside your bubble. With all due respect to the late Queen, and I hope the next few days go well, the country is an unequal and difficult place for many- the Royal Family are representative of an outdated ruling class who care little for those who live in poverty.
Things will kick off, probably not this weekend, but soon.

This!

I wonder how many people lined the streets today as a proportion of the total population of London? Probably not that high. Have to factor in large number of tourists too I imagine

Totally disagree. I was caught up in the crowds pre-procession and there were very few tourists that I saw or heard. It was very much Brits.

I was also down by the queue today in the London / Tower Bridge area and again, mainly Brits. The only non-native accents I even heard were tourists milling around on Tower Bridge itself rather than queuing. There are lots of non-Londoners travelling in and trains are VERY busy. Tourist presence seems much more minimal than usual.

Security already incredibly tight. Police everywhere including counter-terrorism police.

I think we'll get away with the state funeral but not sure the mood of the country will accept the expenditure on a coronation in the same way. And I know he's grieving, but Charles hasn't exactly covered himself in glory with his pen tantrums. Appeared a bit of spoilt brat to be honest. I'm no fan of Camilla's either but feel quite sorry for her as she seems to have aged ten years in the last week. Monarchy is an outdated concept. Time for it to end now.

^ I mostly agree with this: there is a v heavy police presence, and I have felt pretty safe, especially in the queue and at Westminster hall for the lying in state (great security, loads of police presence including officers with guns at the venue which you rarely see in the UK)

I’ve lived in (mostly Central) London for 25 years - so through 2005 terror attacks & 2011 riots, 2012 Olympics, Jubilees, Cambridge wedding etc … there is as much/more security than ever and a peaceful atmosphere, The general public are being much nicer than usual for London 😂 & looking out for each other

I do think there are some risks: petty theft if you are distracted (so if I was going into London with kids I’d aim to have an extra adult if more than 1 child with you), and an obvious risk of terrorism especially on Monday - although no doubt there is a lot going on behind the scenes to prevent that

It was interesting re the PP who said she/her DP had been warned by work to avoid security. My past company told me the risk nowadays is more ‘lone’ people eg a person driving into a crowd etc so that’s something to be aware of (I think this risk is I reason that the LIS queue is controlled across the bridges so that people are not standing on them for ages but cross in a group and leave the bridge clear til the next group go over)

I did feel v uncomfortable in Hyde Park yesterday: I was watching funeral procession on the screens, and a young man was running around the crowd (ie trying to attract attention), dressed in black with a mask, headband, carrying a backpack & waving a religious text: either trying to scare people or someone with MH issues as not a stealthy ninja assassin 😂 Security picked him up to search but I think people need to be aware that you ARE a target for lone terrorists/unstable people etc in any crowd & be aware/don’t let your guard down. I was considering moving away (til security picked him up) but other people noticed him but did not seem to react

Have been following news and apparently there have been several arrests of individuals so I trust that the police/intelligence is being as active as possible: but keeping you & yours safe is an individual responsibility.

Not to put anyone off participating in the events, but being aware of risks & who is around you and not taking on so much/pushing past your physical limits so that you get distracted is sensible

• correction - not ‘avoid security’ but ‘avoid C London due to security risk’

• and second correction: there are security barriers (concrete low walls) lining the bridges to make a barrier between pedestrians and cars, which were put up since the sad events of the London Bridge attacks. I don’t want to put anyone off/ramp up worry: more to say that all the risks that can be managed seem to be taken care of

It feels like you are just trying to stoke the situation further OP. It feels as if you want something to happen rather than a passive calm response….

Not to mention the suitcases full of cash. WTAF was that all about?

Sorry, that was meant in reply to Ifeelsuchafool