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?

How on earth is it xenophobic to say priority ought to be given to 1. UK subjects 2. Commonwealth (made up of many cultures) citizens?

I went to Tenerife a few years ago. In the major theme parks and places of interest, they had one fee for indigenous residents and another for non-residents. I didn't begrudge them. Made sense to me. Why do they do it? Money most likely, but also it prevents the locals getting pissed off because they are frozen out of their local areas of leisure and interest. It's called having a balance that respects the indigenous people first. Leaving aside the sheer amount of time and money this would take to police this, I’m interested in how this would be organised. I’m British and my family have lived in London for centuries. Surely I should get priority over someone like the American OP? I mean, she might live here now, but I’m more indigenous than she is. Surely I’ve got more of a claim on the Queen than she has? Or should we just accept that the whole thing is absolutely batshit and that if any person from any country feels the need to pay their respects and is willing to queue for hours, then they should be as welcome to do so as the next person. This is an old lady’s funeral ffs, not a sodding water park or attraction. None of us have any rights or entitlements to get anywhere near her coffin, let alone debate who should be able to walk past it first. I’m not a royalist by any means but, my God, I feel for her family having to listen to the petulant foot stamping because their mum’s funeral isn’t sufficiently inclusive for all those people wanting to be ‘part of history’.

tourists which come from countries where the queen was not head of state are swelling the queues and some are using the event as a tourist attraction Rather than actually to pay respects She was loved and respected by lots of people all over the world. Let’s be realistic here, if someone is viewing the event as a tourist attraction, then it would be quicker and easier just to go on the London Eye. Anyone willing to queue for hours on end just to walk past a coffin with a flag draped over it isn’t doing anything different from the crowds of people who did have her as their head of state.

Ah DS and his friends are stood just behind David Beckham! They are just about to go into the single file queue. 11 hrs so far for them.

My main concern would be that I wouldn’t make lifelong friends with the people in front and behind me in the queue. Knowing my luck, I’d have some awful whingers around me or someone munching stinky food for 12 hours, someone with BO or an accent that grated on me

Perhaps you could send the money you would have spent on train fares for something really useful like a food bank. This mass hysteria is really getting on my nerves now.

How do you know they’re not paying their respects though? Why on Earth would that exclude anyone from wanting to show their respect. I also expect that many of the UK citizens in the queue are also there simply to witness a part of history, and that’s also ok!

Can't stand the sarcasm from some people on here, so unnecessary.

I get where op is coming from, I wanted to take my children to the palace and to see the flowers etc - just so they have a memory of commemorating of some kind. But my children wouldn't cope with the crowds, queues or walking involved as I've been told there's one way walking routes in place which are quite long. Anyway, I'd love to have taken them but I accept it's not appropriate for my children. I'm still a little jealous of those that are able to go though and I don't know how they could have made it fairer or easier for everyone to pay their respects, I just wish it was. I like the idea of lighting a candle at home though, I may just do that with my children instead.

3 queus now and a 24 hour wait only the crazies are left in the ring now.

I understand your feelings everything has become so global. In the end Queen lived in UK and our taxes supported Royalty. I think at least some priority for UK tax payers. My daughter is standing in the queue right now. She’s been there 7 hours another 7 till entrance. It’s a cold night

I’m not particularly Royalist but considered this to be an interesting event to visit. I work nearby anyway. I entered Green Park easily and it was a pretty walk through the very fabulous wealthy area. I looked at flowers grouped around the trees and past Buck palace down to Westminster Hall . Obviously busy but I wouldn’t say terrible crowds. The queue was “just” 8 hours long Wed evening but I thought “no”. It was still worth seeing without having to queue for looking at a coffin.

I haven't RTFT but it slightly reminds me of during lockdown when people went out for their walk/daily outing/the beach and of course had a valid reason ....and then were appalled that other people had the cheek to be out for a walk /at the shops/beach/countryside at the same time!! (And decided the others couldn't possibly have a valid reason)

I can't imagine wanting to queue for a day but some people are prepared to and fair play to them if that's what they feel they are able to do that. There is an access queue for disabilities.

Ticketing?? To see a coffin?? You are also referring to this as “an event” that ought to be “accessible” and you should have the “opportunity”. You do realise the queen was a human right? Her body is in there. A human body. Have some goddam respect.

Your hypocrisy and lack of self awareness is staggering

Quite. Which is exactly why the OP and her kids can’t be arsed. But she’d like to make it a “ticketed event” cos she’s got fomo.

This is an old lady’s funeral ffs, not a sodding water park or attraction. None of us have any rights or entitlements to get anywhere near her coffin.

Right and wrong. The Royal Family sit on a knife edge of republicanism. They suffer us. We suffer them. It's a reciprocal relationship. One our now, King Charles understands well and why he wishes to reform the Monarchy yet further. The mystique of Royal power is conveyed in rituals like this. So sorry, but purely just on surface this statement isn't wholly correct.

As for the rest, it would simply be a case of UK & Commonwealth citizens no matter how long they have been here getting priority access. Citizenship approved last week or born here. I really cannot fathom why this is intrinsically seen as wrong. Are other countries wrong to show partially to their people over travelling Brits? Of course not.

And overall I disagree that a Tourist can feel the same way an invested UK/Commonwealth citizen can. I really don't. There's royalty in other countries in Europe. No way I feel as strongly about Harald the 5th of Norway or Margrethe the 2nd of Denmark as the citizens of those countries do. It would be an insult to claim so. When they die, I would understand completely if their state lying-in was prioritised to citizens first, even if I happened to be holidaying in the country. Respect notwithstanding. People have been turned away in floods of tears today. Citizens and taxpayers.

If attending the state lying in of your own Monarch is, to quote the current favoured maxim on MN, 'batshit' then by that same arbitrary yardstick, it's even more so to queue for hours and attend as a person with no ties to the nation at all.

It's not a yardstick I'd use, but there it is.

😂😂😂 my fav comment

291 people so far requiring medical assistance while in the queue. Madness. Don't add to the chaos

So many ways to pay your respects to the deceased.

It's a very personal thing. It doesn't need to be in a queue. It can at home. A small prayer if you're religious or some kind words.

Paying respects does not need to be public at all. Take your time. Choose your own thing.

I think u have too much time on your hands why can't your children pay respects by sending card's or signing condolences books which I am sure your town hall must have also see the coffin on the tv live coverage all day long