The Queen

I love the Royal Family but this would be a step (or six thousands steps) too far for me, I would not have the patience:

Where the queue is now
 
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ShinySideUp said:
I love the Royal Family but this would be a step (or six thousands steps too far) for me, I would not have the patience:

Where the queue is now
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Yep, determination needed.

PS I have been watching (on & off) the Freeview ch 601 (BBC red button) and it a very respectful people.

The changing of the Vigil Guards is watching history in action.
 
On Monday I am reading that Dr’s surgery’s are to close. NHS appointments are being cancelled and even some cancer appointments are being rescheduled.
I cannot imagine the Queen would want this. Someone needs to rethink this ?
 
badlywornroy said:
On Monday I am reading that Dr’s surgery’s are to close. NHS appointments are being cancelled and even some cancer appointments are being rescheduled.
I cannot imagine the Queen would want this. Someone needs to rethink this ?
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I guess a lot or all of these are normally shut on a bank holiday?
 
badlywornroy said:
On Monday I am reading that Dr’s surgery’s are to close. NHS appointments are being cancelled and even some cancer appointments are being rescheduled.
I cannot imagine the Queen would want this. Someone needs to rethink this ?
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Considering what has been happening in the UK over the past two and a half years, it is an absolute outrage.
 
Had a window open on my PC last night for a couple of hours showing the feed of the 'lying in state'; so peaceful and respectful. It was interesting to see all the different nationalities and cultures that are filing through.
 
I have been watching quite a bit of it all and each time I end up with tears in my eyes, to me the Queen was everything like, a mother grand mother great grand mother and in between she was the head of state for us and many other countries. If I could of then I would of gone to pay my respects like many others have and are doing. The Queen made a pledge many years ago and a lot of people want to go and pay their respect to and good for them I say. If I cry any more or shed a tear then so be it, if some think I'm sad then good but for me it is a strange feeling, I will also watch on Monday as well. As Heather said above, This is an extraordinary event in history.
 
ShinySideUp said:
Had a window open on my PC last night for a couple of hours showing the feed of the 'lying in state'; so peaceful and respectful. It was interesting to see all the different nationalities and cultures that are filing through.
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This death is possible the most known about across the world.

It seems that, in our little bubble of self-interest and ability to say what we like, a lot are not aware of that.
 
Tigger.ufo said:
In your opinion.

You should also think that about every other Bank holiday where it is normal practice.
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Surely this is different ? other bank holidays are planned for well in advance and appointments, procedures not scheduled. This is a short notice bank holiday and many people will be scheduled for appointments and even operations that have now been cancelled. Yes, the NHS waiting list gets even longer ! I know someone who has been waiting 18 months for a procedure (not life threatening) this has now been cancelled on monday and is being rescheduled. Try to put yourself in this position and then justify it. The Queens passing should in no way impinge on the health of her subjects . . . should it ?
 
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Fuji Dave said:
I see that one of the guards collapsed while guarding the Queens coffin.
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This from The Guardian
The only noise comes every 20 minutes, when the ten-strong guard, who stand around the coffin with their heads bowed, is changed.
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So it seems their welfare is considered,
 
Fuji Dave said:
Six hours to stand still is hard.

www.theargus.co.uk

Watch: Royal guard collapses at foot of Queen's coffin during lying in state

Soldiers in ceremonial uniform are maintaining a constant, 24-hour vigil around the Queen’s coffin while she is lying in state.
www.theargus.co.uk www.theargus.co.uk
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Was he one of the Royal Archers who escorted the coffin in Scotland?

If so I think it was said that they were older age and an honourary group and I can imagine the physical strain on anyone not used to standing in one position for an extended period can take its toll.

I hope he is AOK and if willing and able to attend again, if that is his wish?
 
It's incredible how those guards surrounding the coffin can stand frozen in position for 6 hours at a time. What if they need a toilet break?

And also, it's amazing that people have been prepared to queue for miles, even overnight, for hours and hours for just a few seconds in Westminster Hall. I'm not knocking it, but blimey.
 
Box Brownie said:
Was he one of the Royal Archers who escorted the coffin in Scotland?

If so I think it was said that they were older age and an honourary group and I can imagine the physical strain on anyone not used to standing in one position for an extended period can take its toll.

I hope he is AOK and if willing and able to attend again, if that is his wish?
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I'm sure he is fine now, not sure if he was one who escorted the coffin though.
 
Merlin5 said:
It's incredible how those guards surrounding the coffin can stand frozen in position for 6 hours at a time. What if they need a toilet break?

And also, it's amazing that people have been prepared to queue for miles, even overnight, for hours and hours for just a few seconds in Westminster Hall. I'm not knocking it, but blimey.
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They are changed every 20 minutes.
 
Merlin5 said:
It's incredible how those guards surrounding the coffin can stand frozen in position for 6 hours at a time. What if they need a toilet break?

And also, it's amazing that people have been prepared to queue for miles, even overnight, for hours and hours for just a few seconds in Westminster Hall. I'm not knocking it, but blimey.
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Some folk can stand for long periods, but some folk are trained to stand still and not move an inch.
 
The six hours mentioned is the length of the shift that the guards stand, there are four watches of six hours each and during each watch the actual guard times are twenty minutes each (I don't know how many guards are in each watch), so not too arduous for people who are used to it. I had stand to attention for up to twenty minutes several times while an apprentice in the Air Force and if someone fainted they were asked if they had had breakfast, if they replied 'no' they were put on a charge; other than that, there is no penalty for fainting, just a lot of ribbing from his mates I expect.
 
Thanks for correction chaps about 20 minute rotations.
 
Tigger.ufo said:
In your opinion.

You should also think that about every other Bank holiday where it is normal practice.

This is an extraordinary event in history.
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"An extraordinary event in history"

Not in my opinion, 'extraordinary' definition " very unusual or remarkable. "

Many Queens and Kings have 'passed' as history shows, and likely many more will ? Are all these 'passings' extraordinary events in history ?

People 'Pass' it is the 'nature of the beast' and is ordinary as opposed to extraordinary.

The Queen was 96 and you could argue that her passing was ' imminent ' or 'expected' not extraordinary.

The phrase "An extraordinary event in history" is another example of the mild hysteria that has overtaken this sad occasion.
 
Louis XIV was the longest ever reigning monarch at 72 years 110 days and people still remember him for his actions. Augustus Caesar is still remembered from 27BCE. Reference is still made to Hannibal -- 247BCE -- and to the city of Carthage -- 814BCE. If things are notable, they will be written down and passed into history, I feel pretty confident that our late Queen will be one of those institutions.
 
Odd that the powers-that-be have restricted access to the queue as it's getting too long. What are people supposed to do? Is there a queue to join the queue and if they restrict that one will there be a queue......?
 
ShinySideUp said:
Odd that the powers-that-be have restricted access to the queue as it's getting too long. What are people supposed to do? Is there a queue to join the queue and if they restrict that one will there be a queue......?
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Good point, lots of people waiting at the back of it!

I am assuming there are portaloos along the way! Seems like a long time to hold out!
 
I'm on the tube into central London armed with my camera and 18-50mm f2.8 Sigma for some street photography. I just want to have a walkabout and get an upclose feel for what's going on. No doubt it's going to be pretty crowded everywhere!
 
cambsno said:
Good point, lots of people waiting at the back of it!

I am assuming there are portaloos along the way! Seems like a long time to hold out!
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I believe the wristbands given out are numbered, so you can leave the queue for food, wee, etc. and return to your place.
 
I heard there'll be something like10,000 police down here on Monday. I'm walking around Millbank and there's already police vans parked and marked from Lancashire, Nottingham, Manchester, Cornwall, Cheshire, basically from around the whole country. Quite interesting walking around Westminster. I saw a BBC interview happening, the queue of people going into the Hall at Millbank and more exiting at Parliament Square, tons of media equipment and bright lights being set up on an erected platform opposite Westminster Abbey ready for Monday, and loads of white tents, cameras and lights on College Green. Yellow crowd security people and police presence absolutely everywhere. Amazing how this all got organised so well.
 
Merlin5 said:
I heard there'll be something like10,000 police down here on Monday. I'm walking around Millbank and there's already police vans parked and marked from Lancashire, Nottingham, Manchester, Cornwall, Cheshire, basically from around the whole country. Quite interesting walking around Westminster. I saw a BBC interview happening, the queue of people going into the Hall at Millbank and more exiting at Parliament Square, tons of media equipment and bright lights being set up on an erected platform opposite Westminster Abbey ready for Monday, and loads of white tents, cameras and lights on College Green. Yellow crowd security people and police presence absolutely everywhere. Amazing how this all got organised so well.
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The core structure of this has been years in the planning.
 
Box Brownie said:
The core structure of this has been years in the planning.
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Decades the planning for the Queens funeral started in the 1960, though I'm sure it's had more than one revision.
 
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