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The royal family
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Will you go to see The Queen lying in state?

298 replies

SupposeItDoesnt · 08/09/2022 20:59

I plan to go next week from the midlands, to oh my respects. How many of us are planning the journey? I’m considering going late in the evening as it should be open 23 hours a day according to the news.

OP posts:
RandomPenguinHouse · 10/09/2022 07:48

A friend of mine may go to see the crowns which will be laid out by or on the coffin. I didn’t know they did that so said I may go with her for that reason, since we both live in walking distance of the Abbey and can go at night. But it sounds like the queues will be ridiculously long even at night, so I probably won’t.

I wouldn’t consider it if I didn’t live locally.

CatsandFish · 10/09/2022 07:53

@OnceAgainWithFeeling I'd like to know if it will be a glass see-through casket, or a closed wooden coffin. If it's a closed coffin and you can't see anything, it could be empty, then I don't see what the point would be of going. I pictured it like other leaders around the world who lie in state in a glass enclosure. Easily viewable. My next question is would she be embalmed if it's glass enclosure/casket because the body starts to bloat and decompose only 2 days after death so if it's glass viewing she'd need to be embalmed.

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 10/09/2022 07:56

Royals are buried in lead-lined coffins. It will be a wooden coffin, draped with the Royal Standard, with guards at each corner and some pieces of the Crown Jewels on the top.

Where on earth has the idea of a glass casket come from?????

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 10/09/2022 07:59

Mywatchis · 09/09/2022 21:47

OnceAgainWithFeeling

Sorry if it's been asked already but I don't want to lose your name, could I just ask what is the expected turnout for the actual funeral? Is it just plain daft to imagine you'd see anything unless you camped out for a week?

I can’t say more than “millions”.

JanglyBeads · 10/09/2022 07:59

An alternative would be to go to a footbridge as the royal train containing her coffin passes underneath, it will be going slowly and they're expecting people to throw flowers apparently.

Down the East coast mainline.

SquirmOfEels · 10/09/2022 08:05

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 10/09/2022 07:56

Royals are buried in lead-lined coffins. It will be a wooden coffin, draped with the Royal Standard, with guards at each corner and some pieces of the Crown Jewels on the top.

Where on earth has the idea of a glass casket come from?????

People online who weren't around last time there was a royal lying-in-state, and who have not googled for the images of previous times.

I went to HMQM's - because I'm in London on an easy short journey and it came up on the news that they were extending the night time opening and I thought "I bet most people haven't heard that or can't get there at the drop of a hat" so went and only queued for a couple of hours

I don't know if I'll go this time - might in the wee small hours. I went to Buckingham Palace (without flowers) a couple of hours after the announcement, when the crowds were big but not that big and still quite lightly marshalled (you could enter and leave by all usual points.

rose69 · 10/09/2022 08:07

I drove past Queen mother laying in state and there was a long queue at 3 am. It will be longer for the Queen.

CatsandFish · 10/09/2022 08:09

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 10/09/2022 07:56

Royals are buried in lead-lined coffins. It will be a wooden coffin, draped with the Royal Standard, with guards at each corner and some pieces of the Crown Jewels on the top.

Where on earth has the idea of a glass casket come from?????

Google shows various leaders lying in state in glass. Such as Mao, Kim Jong, etc. I think Mother Teresa was. It's pretty standard. That's what I thought they meant by her lying in state. What would be the point of visiting a closed wooden box?

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 10/09/2022 08:10

Never for a British Royal. It’s just not protocol.

ChipsAreLife · 10/09/2022 08:13

I would like to go but it depends on the queues. If they're too bad I will go lay flowers. I'm doing it to pay my respects. I don't find it weird at all but was raised catholic and wonder if it's more of a religious thing?

Plus my beloved late dm would have gone so I'm going for her.

Interesting reading the comments on here from people who think it's grim, death tourism etc. those thoughts never cross my mind. I do find it off people taking selfies and documenting it on SM.... and I'm a millennial!

ChipsAreLife · 10/09/2022 08:17

@MenopauseSucks going for my mum too. I hope your mum gets better soon

Celeryfavour · 10/09/2022 08:41

I would like to but would have to be within school run times for me, so not possible.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 10/09/2022 09:04

Where on earth has the idea of a glass casket come from?????

I'm getting the feeling that some people think this is a wake with open coffin and tea and nibbles for the mourners rather than a filing past a coffin on a catafalque.

KittenKong · 10/09/2022 09:13

Snow White?

TheYearOfSmallThings · 10/09/2022 10:03

,Where on earth has the idea of a glass casket come from?????

I suppose they are picturing Eva Peron or Lenin, or Grace Kelly (who didn't have a glass coffin but it was open).

newnamethanks · 10/09/2022 13:26

Dictator chic. And I think Michael Jackson was in a glass coffin too. Definitely not for British royals.

GreenClock · 10/09/2022 13:32

Seems weird to me but some people love all that. Hopefully they won’t have to queue in the rain.

Snowiscold · 10/09/2022 13:38

newnamethanks · 10/09/2022 13:26

Dictator chic. And I think Michael Jackson was in a glass coffin too. Definitely not for British royals.

But British royals have done so for generations.

newnamethanks · 10/09/2022 13:43

Thank you snow. I was referring to the Disney coffin.

upinaballoon · 10/09/2022 14:13

No. I live too far away. If I lived near I would consider it. I would expect a closed coffin with a flag over it because I'm old and have seen them before. I would have to chance it that her body is inside it. That is something I have to chance at every funeral I go to. I will not be surprised if sons or grandsons take a turn in standing sentry at the corners. Maybe even the women/girls might.

I like the idea of scattering a few flowers from the railway bridges.

I expect that locally I will sign a little condolences book.

travellingfamily · 10/09/2022 14:33

JanglyBeads · 10/09/2022 07:59

An alternative would be to go to a footbridge as the royal train containing her coffin passes underneath, it will be going slowly and they're expecting people to throw flowers apparently.

Down the East coast mainline.

BBC are reporting she will be flown to London?

TheQueensCousin · 10/09/2022 20:33

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 08/09/2022 21:11

I‘m part of Operation London Bridge. We are expecting MILLIONS to queue to see her lie in state. You won’t do it in a day. The line is expected to be about 7 miles long with people camping out for it from tonight.

Do you know if there will be provision for disabled people wanting to pay their respects. I have mobility problems and would be unable to stand in a queue for a lengthy period of time.

KassandraOfSparta · 10/09/2022 20:45

I am taking my children to Edinburgh tomorrow. (From Glasgow). Don't think we'll see be able to see her lying in state but hope to see the cars arrive from Balmoral.

Lovethesun100 · 10/09/2022 20:48

TheQueensCousin · 10/09/2022 20:33

Do you know if there will be provision for disabled people wanting to pay their respects. I have mobility problems and would be unable to stand in a queue for a lengthy period of time.

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We are taking our own chairs :-)

Toddlerteaplease · 10/09/2022 21:30

Have we all forgotten that it was done as recently as 2002 for the Queen Mother. Filing passed a coffin to show respect is not a new thing.

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