Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to sleep on the Mall? 👑

290 replies

PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 19:01

10yo DD desperately wants to sleep overnight on the Mall so she can see the king going past in his golden carriage. I rashly said last year (when I refused to take her to QEII's funeral) that I'd consider it.

But I don't want to. It's raining and cold. It means sleeping on the ground. It will be packed, the loos will be grim and we'll lose our place when we use them. We'll be surrounded by royalist nutters screaming "We love you, King Charles!" and knuckling their foreheads. We'd get a much better view on TV in the comfort of our own home.

I couldn't care less about the monarchy, other than that the parades are cool and I don't see how they could possibly do a worse job than an elected politician.

DD is very disappointed. AIBU to say no and tell her she can go to William's coronation when she'll likely be old enough to sort it out herself?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Quveas · 27/04/2023 19:53

The OPs posts are all entirely true.

Sugargliderwombat · 27/04/2023 19:54

You don't need to sleep. You need to get there early. I got up there for 5 30 when William and Kate got married, by the time the nutters in the tent got up there was room at the front 😊. This is a moment in history she will remember forever. Just go for it 😄

HundredMilesAnHour · 27/04/2023 19:55

LIZS · 27/04/2023 19:51

Thought they were using it on the return trip.

Show quote history

Same.

But it's kept on display in the Royal Stables round the corner from Buckingham Palace so maybe the OP should take her DD on a visit to see it once all the drama is over. No need for wet sleeping bags that way.

JustRingJoeDuffy · 27/04/2023 19:59

Would you/she compromise and settle for watching it in a royal park instead? Hyde Park will have four of them, and lots of loos. Bring a picnic and blanket and soak up the atmosphere. You'll see more as the procession route has no screens.
And if its lashing rain, find a cinema showing it instead...

JustRingJoeDuffy · 27/04/2023 20:00

JustRingJoeDuffy · 27/04/2023 19:59

Would you/she compromise and settle for watching it in a royal park instead? Hyde Park will have four of them, and lots of loos. Bring a picnic and blanket and soak up the atmosphere. You'll see more as the procession route has no screens.
And if its lashing rain, find a cinema showing it instead...

Four big screens, that was meant to say 🙄

InSpainTheRain · 27/04/2023 20:00

I may be going against the grain here, but if you said you'd think about it I think you should take her. She will love it, it'll be a memory forever for her. I actually regret not taking my 2 DS to an event like this in the past, they are in their twenties now so I see them much less.

JenniferBarkley · 27/04/2023 20:04

Oh god. Honestly, I'm looking forward to watching it on the TV but I would hate to be there in person. However you have promised and it really would be a memory for life, even if it's shit Grin

The early start doesn't sound as bad as camping? Or maybe you could sell her on one of her other options.

Rosula · 27/04/2023 20:07

I really couldn't disappoint my child like that. You should have thought about all those downsides last year when you told her you'd do it. Yes, I know you only said you'd think about it, but you said it so she wouldn't pester you about going to the funeral. It's totally unfair to backtrack now.

And the weather is due to improve next week.

Original poster
PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:07

Thankyou to everyone who has pointed out that there's no camping allowed. Thank goodness. We live outside London but close enough that I work there, so could conceivably drive in super-early, park at work and get the tube the rest of the way to be there before 6. I'll try to bribe her out of it with having her friends round for a tea party viewing instead though.

The air-con carriage is being used on the way there and the golden state carriage on the way back.

There will definitely be pickpockets out in force. Why does anyone think there wouldn't be?! Huge crowds not paying attention to their belongings...

I didn't promise her anything. I said I'd think about it. And I have and I don't want to.

OP posts:
Giselletheunicorn · 27/04/2023 20:08

Obviously can't comment on weather and, yes, obsessive fawning over royalty will be a given. But doubt very much that you will get robbed in your sleep. Half the officers in the Met will be stationed in Central London next week.

I've slept out in the queue at Wimbledon before and it's all very civilised. Police wandering up and down all night. People tend to respect each other's laces in the queue if you need to pee. And everyone very friendly.

roxyballroom · 27/04/2023 20:10

PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:07

Thankyou to everyone who has pointed out that there's no camping allowed. Thank goodness. We live outside London but close enough that I work there, so could conceivably drive in super-early, park at work and get the tube the rest of the way to be there before 6. I'll try to bribe her out of it with having her friends round for a tea party viewing instead though.

The air-con carriage is being used on the way there and the golden state carriage on the way back.

There will definitely be pickpockets out in force. Why does anyone think there wouldn't be?! Huge crowds not paying attention to their belongings...

I didn't promise her anything. I said I'd think about it. And I have and I don't want to.

It's all me, me, me, me, me!!! 🙄

HeidiUpTheMountain · 27/04/2023 20:10

You will not be allowed to camp out on The Mall, so your issue is solved for you immediately. All the details are on the gov.uk website.

You will be allowed to get into place from 6am, so if you’re going that’s when you’ll need to get there.

You can now honestly tell your daughter that you shouldn’t have promised before you knew the rules, and the rules are that there is no camping out. You can get the first train and be ready to claim a spot at the roadside. There may even be special trains laid on, as there have been for other similar occasions in the past.

pinachina · 27/04/2023 20:11

My auntie took my daughter, they said it was amazing, a memory for life. They said there was a real camaraderie, great facilities and 'neighbours' saving your space when you left.

Fair enough if you don't want to do it or hate the monarchy, but it's nothing like you describe (apart from the rain and the floor!).

SlippySarah · 27/04/2023 20:12

DurhamDurham · 27/04/2023 19:07

I don't know why you even said you would consider it. You r just disappointed her twice now, you should have just said a firm no to both last year.

Definitely agree with this.

Sirzy · 27/04/2023 20:13

Personally I would go even if it wouldn’t be my idea of fun

Original poster
PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:13

Yes, totally unreasonable of me not to want to take my 10yo DD "camping" in central London so she can stand for hours in the wet and cold, dying for a wee, to see 10 seconds of an old rich dude rolling by in a fancy box.

OP posts:
pinachina · 27/04/2023 20:14

Oh just seen you can't anyway.

Original poster
PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:14

That was in response to the "me, me, me" poster.

OP posts:
Tentoseveninthemorning · 27/04/2023 20:15

My late DM used to love the queen and so we took her and DD (aged about 4 I think) to Queen's Diamond Jubilee (luckily DM lived in London so not much travel). DM was so excited because it was something that DD would remember forever and we were making special memories... Reader, DD doesn't remember a bloody thing about it 🙃I do, however, have some very lovely photos of DD & DM which make me smile.

aberlot · 27/04/2023 20:16

PortiasBiscuit · 27/04/2023 19:10

My sisters went to see the queen lying in State, they had a fantastic time. It’ll be a memory.

Eh? A fantastic time?

Kanaloa · 27/04/2023 20:16

PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:13

Yes, totally unreasonable of me not to want to take my 10yo DD "camping" in central London so she can stand for hours in the wet and cold, dying for a wee, to see 10 seconds of an old rich dude rolling by in a fancy box.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable not to want to do it. I don’t want to do it, and don’t agree with the monarchy, so if any of mine had asked it would have been an immediate no, same as if they asked to go on a cruise or move to Sweden. But I think it’s a tiny bit unreasonable to have used the ‘we’ll see’ or ‘I’ll consider it’ when you presumably knew all these things wouldn’t appeal to you at the time. It’s really frustrating as a child, and much better just to give a straight answer.

tallcypowder · 27/04/2023 20:16

PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:13

Yes, totally unreasonable of me not to want to take my 10yo DD "camping" in central London so she can stand for hours in the wet and cold, dying for a wee, to see 10 seconds of an old rich dude rolling by in a fancy box.

I agree OP. It's a never in a life time experience for me. It would be unbearable.

Schabernacker · 27/04/2023 20:17

@PolkaDotMankini

"I said I would consider it. I have now considered it, and the answer is no".

Justnocricket · 27/04/2023 20:17

No way. I went to London to see the late Queen’s coffin being moved and the crowds were scary. So many roads were shut or narrowed and we were being channelled through small gaps (I have no idea why) with pushing and shoving. It was chaos!

I was so grateful that I didn’t take DS with me, he would have been frightened.

Inthemiddleofthenightdu · 27/04/2023 20:17

PolkaDotMankini · 27/04/2023 20:07

Thankyou to everyone who has pointed out that there's no camping allowed. Thank goodness. We live outside London but close enough that I work there, so could conceivably drive in super-early, park at work and get the tube the rest of the way to be there before 6. I'll try to bribe her out of it with having her friends round for a tea party viewing instead though.

The air-con carriage is being used on the way there and the golden state carriage on the way back.

There will definitely be pickpockets out in force. Why does anyone think there wouldn't be?! Huge crowds not paying attention to their belongings...

I didn't promise her anything. I said I'd think about it. And I have and I don't want to.

Because you implied that camping overnight would result in you being pick-pocketed, which is just ridiculous. Act responsibly - keep your bag out of view and inaccessible, it's not hard. Do you live a very sheltered life?