To refuse to sleep on the Mall? 👑

[PolkaDotMankini]

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?

Can you go to hyde park to watch on big screen?

Aw if my 10 year old really wanted to do it and I could afford the time etc etc I would...you'd already told her you'd think about it. Even if it all goes wrong in some way it will still be a memory for her.

Life's not a dress rehearsal, she'll only be 10 once. Do it!!! :D

First and foremost you need to put your feelings on the monarchy aside - that’s your issue, not hers.
IMO if she’s dead set on it you’ve brought it on yourself by saying maybe - I’d just go through with it (if you’re allowed).

tell her to catch a grip and sign her up to republic, then she will see what a load of useless spongers they are

I couldn't think of a worse way to spend my precious time off work

I’ve no idea how this works. If you booked a hotel nr westminster abbey could you get up early and see some of the action?

Compromise and go and watch from one of the parks (on the big screens). She’ll still experience the atmosphere.

My DD does loads of stuff she’s probably not keen on because my husband and I want to. Sometimes I think it’s right that we return the favour. If she really wanted to, I’d take her. You’re not camping anyway.

You sound a few sandwiches short of a picnic OP, hopefully you will find them in Hyde Park.

This reminds of how incredibly disappointed I was whenever my parents said "we'll see" as a kid and I always optimistically hoped for yes and was always disappointed.

I think you should go, she will remember your decision forever.

Crumbs why on earth do you think it will be so grim OP? Myself and a friend stayed on The Mall the night before William and Kate married. We had a truly awesome time - it was a big party all night long with people in fancy dress and a real carnival atmosphere on the Mall and into Green Park. We left our stuff consisting of [folding chairs, coats, wine, bags [not cash though] several times and went off and nobody touched any of it - the people next to us kept an eye and we did the same for them. It was literally the best night and day ever - the atmosphere and pageantry was amazing. Just do it OP you won't regret it and DD will never forget it. I'm still making up my mind but wondering if I'm a bit old[ knocking 70] to do 36 hours on the trot with no sleep and cope with the crush on the tube etc. I'm not even a great Royalist but wpould urge anyone to give it a try!

You’re obviously not going to go. You admit yourself you were unreasonable in rashly giving a child who trusted you hope. So now you need to work out how you’re going to explain to her that you made a mistake, why it was a mistake and how you’re going to try to do your best not to do that again. If you want her to be able to take responsibility for the way she deals with other people then you must model that for her and stop trying to make excuses.

I wouldn't sleep on The Mall but you could go up there very early in the morning to join the crowds.

Getting the earliest possible train and taking blankets, snacks etc to camp out without the actual hideous sleeping outside part would still be quite an adventure.

Exactly. She ten years old.

So organise a coronation party or something for her.

YANBU it sounds hideous.

If I were you I would have a chat with her about how the monarchy aren't like story Princes and princesses. They're just people who were born very lucky that we all have to pay a lot of money to and they really arent all that great😂

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

This is so mean spirited. You should have just said no in the first place, instead of getting her hopes up when you knew all along it wouldn't be happening. My parents did this all the time and I still remember how disappointing and hurtful it is. I could never understand why they'd want to make me feel like that, instead of just being honest. It's needlessly cruel.

You come across as quite a negative person. It's one of those experiences that is whatever you make of it. It could be a really cool opportunity to spend time doing something memorable and unique with your DD (who won't want to do stuff like this with you for very much longer). I can imagine my DD would be super excited to wake up before dawn, feel that funny "going on holiday" feeling driving into town super early, have a special trip just the two of us, take some snacks and flasks, have a laugh and a giggle and soak up the atmosphere etc. Or yes, you could be a grumpy sod about it and just be miserable in the rain. Or let her down by not going at all.

It’s obviously a big deal to your dd.
Shes old enough to remember !

We ve all stood in driving rain for hours watching football ( or similar ) Some of us have slept under the stars just because our dcs wanted to. Not trying to make you feel bad but whilst royalty isn’t your thing, it is hers.

Its a one off. So I’d do it if I where you.
Then she’ll have that wonderful lifelong memory that you went with her.

I was almost her age in 1977 when my dad took me to the mall for the silver jubilee. Great memories, esp as he’s no longer with us. Don’t camp but take her.

I think you ought to do the 6am thing if you don't take her. Not just "think" about that too. Weirdly (to me) this seems to mean a lot to her and she took your thinking about it as hope. I would try do something for her.

Talk to your kid, ask her what she wants to get out of the experience, what she expects it to be like.

Then I would offer her:

Watching one of the big screens in the parks, which will mean a very early start, crowded tubes, possibly sitting on damp ground in the drizzle, limited access to toilets and a VERY long day.

She would however have the experience of going and being 'part of it all', and would see a decent amount on the screens.

Or:

Stay at home and have a Coronation Themed day, watching it on tv with family/friends, dress up, themes, buffet etc... still a part of it but at a distance and no early start, no crowds, access to own loo etc.

If she thinks she wants to be part of the parade route (do not offer this, just see if she raises it) then point out it will be the same very early start, the crowds will be worse and there is zero guarantee of actually getting somewhere on the parade route so may well be re-routed to the parks anyway, and if you did... still no guarantee she would see anything at all (being I assume, child height) - if she DID see, it would be 30 seconds or so of the King passing amidst a lot of horses, sandwiched between a lot of absolutely bugger all, and lots of police cars.

I wouldn't but, I am not the muppet who said 'Ill consider it' - you are. So talk it through with her, she probably has VERY different ideas as to what it would actually be like!

My DH and "slept" in the mall for Charles and Diana's wedding. We were 19 at the time. No-one slept and everyone chatted and got friendly. We were very close to the front of a barrier. At about 6am cars started moving up and down the Mall (probably police etc checking the route) and everyone suddenly got up and took their places. That's when all the politeness ended and the elbowing started and we finished off about 8 people deep with not a very good view. We saw Ronald Reagan and I did get a glimpse of Diana and a few other royals.

I still can't believe we did it but we were young and very daft!

We all went for the lying in state. The experience of the queue and trudging the 14 hours from the starting park at 10pm to Westminster around 12pm the next day was something totally unique. Seeing Tower Bridge lit up in purple, walking under it at 1am in a big crowd totally safe. But it was hard going. We came out to crowds and a crush as the king and Prince William was there visiting the crowds. It was a bit panic inducing and you couldn't just go where you wanted to. I'd probably give it a try but your child has to be very willing. My ds wanted to go home at the Globe after ten hours, no toilet, no drink, no stopping. I told him over my dead body was I leaving that queue. I had the Migraine from hell when we got home. But the experience, we won't ever forget. I did feel different the next time I walked from Tower Bridge to Chinatown. Remembering that night. Trama? 😅 I don't regret it one bit. But it was as close to survival training I'm willing to get

It's not really like that, though. I've done this only once, for one of the jubilees, and I only did it because a friend wanted to go. We arrived around 5 a.m., armed with cushions, sun hats, sun cream, food, drink, books to while away the time, you name it. We had a great day. The crowd around us was lovely, we chatted to the cops, we cheered virtually everything including the blokes cleaning the road. We obviously had much than 10 seconds' worth of things to watch - we saw the whole procession including the cavalry, the bands, most members of the Royal Family as well as the Queen, both going up the Mall and then again on their return. I had no inclination to do it again, but I've always been glad I did it that one time.

And absolutely no-one around us got pickpocketed.

I wouldn't really tell her to get a grip aged 10 but yes maybe it would be good to start educated her on what the monarchy actually is as it sounds like she has a very different expectation

I actually considered going up to join the Republic protest (and still might) I wonder if the royalists on this thread will also tell me how great the waiting will be?

Ahaha!