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The royal family
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People losing their minds!!

253 replies

vroom321 · 15/09/2022 09:33

I've put the news on today for the first time since Friday. Had constant twitter / news notifications so heard what's happening.

This morning I've heard people say they saw the queen as a second grandmother. They are as upset as they would be if they lost their mum.

People queuing during their night with their primary age kids.

Just seems a bit mad no?

OP posts:
BlossomsOnATree · 15/09/2022 15:46

At least Diana's death was genuinely tragic and upsetting, which made it more understandable IMO. I remember being shocked when I heard about it and so sorry for her sons, despite not knowing her.

But the Queen was an old lady who had the luck to not only live to 96 in comfort and style, but to be relatively happy, healthy and independent almost until the end. Yes we should have a state funeral and I can understand the wish to celebrate her impressive reign, if you're into that, but I don't get the all-out mourning and sobbing, other than for her nearest and dearest of course. And certainly not the ridiculous closures and cancellations.

Yes it's a historic moment but so was Brexit, and many other big news stories. I am finding it all weirdly over the top.

Serenster · 15/09/2022 15:52

All the parading the coffin from pillar to post seems so undignified.

This is nothing! Back in the 1290s Edward I’s wife Queen Eleanor was brought back from Sheffield (where she died) to London (where she was buried) in a procession that lasted 13 days. Edward erected a cross later in each location where the courtege had spent the night - 3 of them are still standing. They had some embalming techniques in those days, and it was winter, but still….

(the journey ended at Charing Cross, being the last of the crosses for the “Chere Reine” - beloved Queen)

Serenster · 15/09/2022 15:56

Also, I was listening to “The Rest Is History” podcast earlier this week who were speaking about the Queen’s death and funeral and made the point, only slightly tongue in cheek, that historians just have to accept that the things that people collectively remember as significant events in their lives are generally not the events that historians would think they should. And that, for most people, then end of a long reign will understandably be seen as a marker for the end of an era.

Donenow1 · 15/09/2022 16:08

SueSaid · 15/09/2022 09:48

It is obviously sad that she has died but at 96 I'm not quite sure we need everyone on the TV in black and non stop coverage. Imo the coffin should have been moved from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace then there left until the funeral. All the parading the coffin from pillar to post seems so undignified.

Although the optics of processions and bands etc are beautiful and moving

I don't understand why anyone would queue all night to view a coffin it seems odd and verging towards the Diana hysteria effect.

I would have to agree. I would have rather she'd laid at Balmoral and then straight to Buckingham Palace ONLY prior to the funeral. I find her coffin being taken hither and yon distasteful too.

Roussette · 15/09/2022 16:35

I'm old and I find it bizarre. Everyone can do what they want and if they want to queue for 14 hours it is up to them. However I do not want to hear from Beryl from Birmingham who saw the queen in the distance in 1971 and it changed her life
Or Janice from Edinburgh who was a girl guider who wrote to her when she was 7 and hopes she got the letter because even though she didn't get a reply she loves the queen.

The TV channels have lost the plot.

Abra1d1 · 15/09/2022 16:40

People queued for miles to see George VI’s coffin. There are lots of stops on the journey from deathbed to grave, from sandringham to Buckingham Palace, to Westminster, to Paddington, to Windsor for people to view the coffin.

The newsreel coverage was extensive.

This isn’t new.

cushioncovers · 15/09/2022 16:46

People always need something to admire, envy, look up to, follow or grieve for. It's why actors, singers,sports stars etc all become famous with obsessive fans. In the past it was God, saints, the pope, kings, pharaohs, emperors etc etc

embolass · 15/09/2022 16:49

I’m expecting her to be declared a Saint in the near future, it’s ridiculous and shameful this level of adoration were being subjected too.

Charles11 · 15/09/2022 16:52

It does show how powerful the media is and how easily people are influenced on a mass level.
I'm sure this is driven by social media as well as mainstream media.

Pengwinn · 15/09/2022 16:53

Most people I've seen interviewed have said they wanted to be part of history.

Mojoj · 15/09/2022 16:53

It is beyond farcical now.

VatofTea · 15/09/2022 16:53

Virtue signaling competition.

youarntaguest · 15/09/2022 16:59

I do a agree. It's very sad but I couldn't be that upset over someone I didn't know

willowtree00 · 15/09/2022 16:59

Windowtea · 15/09/2022 09:45

Have you ever seen Evita?

There is a song in that called 'Oh what a circus'. Have a listen to that.

We are facing one of the hardest winters with people in financial dire straits and at risk of starving or freezing to death. Yet all we are talking about is a woman who had the economic and social privilege to allow her to live until 96.

Oh my god I haven't heard that song for YEARS and I love it. Ive just hopped onto YouTube to listen to it.

As an additional note, I do agree with the sentiment of your post.

Cornettoninja · 15/09/2022 17:01

Charles11 · 15/09/2022 16:52

It does show how powerful the media is and how easily people are influenced on a mass level.
I'm sure this is driven by social media as well as mainstream media.

Really? How do you explain previous public behaviour when historical monarchs died? Nothing happening now hasn’t happened before and has been planned for with the knowledge of experience that scenes were likely to play out like they have.

I think attributing what we’re witnessing today to social media undermines the connection that people feel with history and tradition. Not everyone of course, but there’s something more than performative grief going on when you observe those moved enough to take part.

IhMrsPr · 15/09/2022 17:02

Pengwinn · 15/09/2022 16:53

Most people I've seen interviewed have said they wanted to be part of history.

Same. I'm expect that's why most people are there really. Nothing to do with liking the Queen, just that it's history.

SuspiciousBanana · 15/09/2022 17:04

If people feel that way then who are we to judge? The Royals are a BIG thing to some people. This is one of the reason why the monarchy has never been abolished and is likely not to be, because a majority of people seem to find it important.

I’ll be honest, most of them are way more tolerable than the current politicians running the country.

saveforthat · 15/09/2022 17:04

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 15/09/2022 10:12

@vroom321

what seems 'mad' to me is starting yet another thread about how mad/ridiculous/'insult of choice' the people/nation/mourners/'insert insult if choice' are.

you could just maintain a dignified silence, in the aftermath of OUR QUEEN , a well respected world leader, dying.

People grieving is FAR more understandable than there disrespectful threads.

Show quote history

I absolutely agree vroom. These threads are the ones that are ridiculous. Some people will want to grieve by seeing her lying in state, laying flowers etc. Some will grieve privately, some not at all. Live and let live and respect other people's choices.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/09/2022 17:04

I wonder whether this is pent up feelings from the past two years - the pandemic, the huge upheaval it caused, all the suffering and deaths - it has all been incredibly stressful and painful, but we have felt we needed to keep going, to cope, and not to let it overwhelm us - and now the Queen has died, we feel we have permission to show our emotions, and that’s just taken the lid off the geyser.

sunglassesonthetable · 15/09/2022 17:05

It does show how powerful the media is and how easily people are influenced on a mass level.
I'm sure this is driven by social media as well as mainstream media.

Just like Churchill, Gorbachev, George IV, Ghandi, The Pope and all those other national figures. Nothing new here except there was no SM back whenever.

I don't think you can blame this all the MM. People have been turning out en masse for the funerals of kings, queens, emperors, pharaohs and public figures for EVER.

Bretonbear · 15/09/2022 17:07

Performance grieving at its finest. Utterly bonkers. It's as if pantomime and circus had a fling.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/09/2022 17:09

@Windowtea I thought that! I loved that film.

EdieLedwell · 15/09/2022 17:13

Serenster · 15/09/2022 15:52

All the parading the coffin from pillar to post seems so undignified.

This is nothing! Back in the 1290s Edward I’s wife Queen Eleanor was brought back from Sheffield (where she died) to London (where she was buried) in a procession that lasted 13 days. Edward erected a cross later in each location where the courtege had spent the night - 3 of them are still standing. They had some embalming techniques in those days, and it was winter, but still….

(the journey ended at Charing Cross, being the last of the crosses for the “Chere Reine” - beloved Queen)

I love this fact!

LadyKenya · 15/09/2022 17:14

TooHot2022 · 15/09/2022 15:43

I did say to DH that I wish everyone who had left flowers had just left a handwritten note or card instead and given £10/£15 to a food bank charity instead!

This. It is a pity that the palace did not suggest something like that.

MarshaBradyo · 15/09/2022 17:16

sunglassesonthetable · 15/09/2022 17:05

It does show how powerful the media is and how easily people are influenced on a mass level.
I'm sure this is driven by social media as well as mainstream media.

Just like Churchill, Gorbachev, George IV, Ghandi, The Pope and all those other national figures. Nothing new here except there was no SM back whenever.

I don't think you can blame this all the MM. People have been turning out en masse for the funerals of kings, queens, emperors, pharaohs and public figures for EVER.

True. Someone put a pic of the same from George IV time on another thread

We’re not that different, there were probably people getting put out by the performative neighbours back then too