To think it's a shame we can't pay our respects

[KeepYaHeadUp]

When we initially heard about the funeral plans DH and I said it might be "nice" to take our DC to London (we're just outside) to walk past the Queen in Westminster Hall. They've been very interested in the whole event and are old enough now that they'll remember it and be able to talk about it, etc. so when they independently asked to go we looked into it.

It quickly became apparent it wasn't going to be feasible due to the huge queues etc, so that was knocked on the head. I feel it's a shame but there's no way I'd have them queuing in the rain.

On the news this morning there are a number of people who's caught flights from all over the world to come and be part of it. One pair - a mother and adult son from New York flew over as soon as they heard the Queen had died and are queuing now.

I know it's unreasonable really, but I felt a pang of something - jealousy, irritation, not sure - at these people with money and time to fly for hours to come and pay their respects to our monarch adding to numbers which effectively deny other groups the opportunity. I know there are allowances made for people with disabilities who are unable to queue for up to 30 hours, but what about children/families for whom it's impossible?

Unclear how it will play out in practice because, although the queue is open, the lying in state hasn't begun so it isn't yet moving except by getting longer at the back. I suspect the people behind you in the queue might have something to say about it if you popped off for a 3 hour lunch. Most of the people currently seem to be mostly staying put, just quickly leaving for a loo break, but obviously it's harder to hide in an unmoving line.

I think if you are on holiday and/or working here as e.g. an American then of course it's right to view the lying in state etc.

But flying here separately and making it into some sort of grief tourism holiday?! These people can experience our traditions and ceremonies any old time they like, but piggybacking on the back of United Kingdom's grief, I'm sorry, doesn't sit well with me. I appreciate, as I said before, that I can't police people visiting from abroad for this event and nor should I, but again, I can't see why it matters to them so much! I suppose, maybe since Meghan married into the RF, Americans may feel more of an interest in the Royal Family as there's now an American presence, or maybe when Wallis Simpson married the Duke of Windsor, but that's about it! I certainly wouldn't be travelling to the Vatican State for the Pope's funeral if he died (I'm not Catholic anyway) nor to e.g. Spain if King Juan Carlos died as I just don't think it's appropriate to do so as I'm not a Spanish citizen. I respect other countries grief.

I'm British by birth, old enough to have witnessed a Silver Jubilee but on one side of my family it's sort of nobility/working for them (European) but for us, and me, the Queen has been there as a strong presence throughout my life, so it is kind of personal to me. Have raised money for her charities etc.

Well this has given me a bloody good laugh!

Dear god....

Ha! Exactly.

I have a few American friends and honestly, besides from when they've visited UK to see castles etc and take a certain interest in the RF, they're not hugely bothered by the RF as they've told me it doesn't really apply to them, although it may interest them. They've told me this themselves. I've happily visited The White House, Liberty Bell - all the British history in Philadelphia and respect that hugely. Americans are very proud of that history and rightly so as it changed the course of their history and severed links with the British. My friend's DH (Irish American) is far more interested in his Irish ancestry however as he says it's more relevant to him as a person.

3 hours would be excessive, but would an hour here and there be permissable I wonder?

Surely they aren't suggesting people don't eat? And I imagine there will eventually be queues for portaloos? Or nearby restaurant toilet facilities. Some will object, some will be happy as long as you buy something. So necessitating time away anyway.

So what exactly do you want to happen? Someone to take your children away for the day. Create a sheltered queue?

I'll bet that if it were a lottery you would be crying that it should have been first come first serve. I don't understand how anyone feels so entitled to "pay respect to" (look at the corpse of) someone they are not related to. Probably the same kind of person that thinks it is a child friendly event.

It's being live streamed by the BBC. Calm down.

No, they aren't suggesting people don't eat or use the loo, just asking people to be respectful. I wondered whether mobile street food sellers might start coming along the route, or whether that would be seen as disrespectful (as so much seems to be connected with this period of national mourning), profiteering. I also no nothing about legal restrictions on where you can and can't sell food and drink. Anyway, the only official restriction on food and drink is that it can't be taken into Westminster Hall, it has to be consumed or binned before the security checkpoint.

This thread is batshit. Maybe we should just leave her in the morgue while we have some kind of committee to assess how it can be 'fair' to everyone.

Well I'm American so this makes me feel even more stupid!

No, but maybe a random system which allocates an hour/2 hour slot. People with more sense than me have explained why this wouldnt work though!

They are handing out coloured wristbands with numbers so that people can come and go and not miss their place in the queue .. Also there are plenty of toilets and refreshments etc You could go and queue with the children for a while with another adult or even alone and then come and go for extended periods. They were saying on the news that there will be a cut off point around Sunday evening when they would not allow more people to joint the queue as after that point there would be no guarantee of admission

People queue overnight just to be first to buy a phone, toy, gaming console, and other naff reasons; you can certainly queue up for the Queen.

Bring a lightweight folding chair to take turns sitting, and backpack with drinks,snacks, rain gear and go for it. If they have the numbered wrist bands even better.

Why would I be crying? I'm not crying now and I'd have been no "worse off". Honestly, so much over-reaction.

@KeepYaHeadUp
I understand.. I was hoping that The Queen would have travelled through some of the country by train too, but it wasn't to be.. the plane didn't go over where I live either. I'd already decided due to health issues that it would be silly to try to get to London (actually, while I'm thinking about it, the only place I wanted to be when I first heard the sad news was in church.. googled churches but none had anything.. one was doing services the very day after, which was something. I'd had this obviously irrational hope that church doors would be flung open..)

It's my late Nan's birthday on the 19th, the same day as the Queen's funeral, so I have bought flowers today (don't get out much so am hoping they'll still be ok!) for in the house, & will light a candle too. I sent money towards helping with the floods in Pakistan, can't really do much more but WANT to.. our Queen was a wonderful woman & she will live on in my heart & many others until the end of our lives.

Perfectly calm now, thanks

The coming and going didn't appear to be an option when we considered attending. That seems far more sensible

Glad you're able to do something in memory of your grandmother. Sure the flowers will be beautiful for Sunday.

This.

People for whatever reason who cannot queue can watch it live as it's streamed on the BBC. You don't need to go there in person to pay your respects.

The way you were going I wouldn't have been surprised if you followed up with how you have shed a few tears about the situation. I am glad you know what overreaction means. Think about your OP and apply some logics.

Logic*

Eh? It was a fleeting moment. No tears. Just a shame. Are you ok?

Wristbands, thirty hour long queue.

Sounds like the shortest ghost train ever.
Perhaps they need some or those shitty plastic tokens so people can jump the queue.

At least there's not a height restriction.