The Queen

[Pound Coin]

Surely the core of the event will be the same time after time. It is then tweaked over time, often with the input of the current sovereign. Given her coffin was made 30 years ago, there has been a lot of preparation.

 

[myotis]

Decades the planning for the Queens funeral started in the 1960, though I'm sure it's had more than one revision.

A retired "Black Rod" said in an interview this week, that the plans for the funeral were under constant revision. He implied changes were being made every week.

 

[Pound Coin]

Operation London Bridge seemed to be available in a document that no one could see.

One thing that I don’t remember reading in it was that D-Day was designated - it wasn’t necessarily the day of death. As it happens, D-Day was declared as Friday, so all lots of things happened a day later than perhaps was expected. The funeral would never have been on Sunday, as they don’t do State Funerals on a Sunday. So, whenever D-Day was, the funeral would have been on Monday.

 

[Merlin5]

The people in the queue currently at the coffin will no doubt feel very fortunate because Charles, Andrew, Edward and Anne are all standing vigil around it whilst the people pass through. Seems a bit odd that. I'd have thought the royals would all have done that before the public started coming in.

 

[sphexx]

Good to know:

Royal beekeeper has to inform palace bees that the Queen has died in strange ritual

The beekeeper, who has helped to look after the insects for well over a decade, said that he was not aware that informing the bees of the Queen's death was part of his role.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

Will Kingy do a waggle dance for them.

 

[myotis]

Good to know:

Royal beekeeper has to inform palace bees that the Queen has died in strange ritual

The beekeeper, who has helped to look after the insects for well over a decade, said that he was not aware that informing the bees of the Queen's death was part of his role.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

Will Kingy do a waggle dance for them.

I've no idea of where the tradition came from, but I'm surprised the beekeeper didn't seem to know about it.

I knew about the need to tell the bees about a death in the family, but didn't know anything about the ritual described so maybe it isn't "just" any death in the family, but the death of the hive owner.

EDIT: I have just been told by my wife that you are meant to inform the bees about all important family events, not just deaths.

 

[Deleted member 68495]

I sold all my bee stuff last year including three hives. I told them they were moving on and -- perhaps it was my imagination but -- they didn't seem to give a toss

 

[sphexx]

I sold all my bee stuff last year including three hives. I told them they were moving on and -- perhaps it was my imagination but -- they didn't seem to give a toss

Mine decamped some years ago and seem to be doing very well in my neighbours roof.

 

[Cockney]

Ref Her majesty laying in state.
It really sticks in my gullet watching celebs and politicians jumping the queue while Squadies, disabled and elderly wait 12 hours. I can't see the justification.
Rant over.

 

[Box Brownie]

Ref Her majesty laying in state.
It really sticks in my gullet watching celebs and politicians jumping the queue while Squadies, disabled and elderly wait 12 hours. I can't see the justification.
Rant over.

At the beginning it appeared the Royal Household and possibly some civil servants were inserted into the queue in Westminster Hall.

However, later David Beckham came through and he apparently queued for 13 hours.

So I wonder who and how some others had, as you say, jumped the queue?

PS it is my understanding that there is separate queue for those with accessibility issues.......though some interviews in the public line seemed fit that category, so why weren't they redirected to the appropriate access point queue??? NB or were those interviews in that queue which is also very, very long?

 

[Marc]

At the beginning it appeared the Royal Household and possibly some civil servants were inserted into the queue in Westminster Hall.

However, later David Beckham came through and he apparently queued for 13 hours.

So I wonder who and how some others had, as you say, jumped the queue?

PS it is my understanding that there is separate queue for those with accessibility issues.......though some interviews in the public line seemed fit that category, so why weren't they redirected to the appropriate access point queue??? NB or were those interviews in that queue which is also very, very long?

Yes, there's a separate queue for disabled access. A friend of mine was there yesterday. It can still be a few hours, depending on what time you get there.

Beckham was apparently offered priority access from an MP, but turned it down and joined the main queue.

 

[tarric]

Ref Her majesty laying in state.
It really sticks in my gullet watching celebs and politicians jumping the queue while Squadies, disabled and elderly wait 12 hours. I can't see the justification.
Rant over.

I'd heard about MP's and the like getting priority access to avoid the que, which IMO was wrong. I just think in this day and age with the technology available the system used to allow people to see the Queen Lying-in-State and queuing for hours was just so unnecessary.

 

[Deleted member 68495]

I'd heard about MP's and the like getting priority access to avoid the que, which IMO was wrong.

Rank hath it's privileges but aside from that, how could an MP pay their respects to the Queen when for 10 hours in a queue they would be spoken at and badgered by people with opposing views, making a mockery of the whole respectful thing? Would it be appropriate for the Prime Minister to be queueing up? People would just wonder why she was wasting her time in a queue. People have been asked about their experience queueing up and the responses have been overwhelmingly positive.

I just think in this day and age with the technology available the system used to allow people to see the Queen Lying-in-State and queuing for hours was just so unnecessary.

What do you suggest they should have done then? Everyone can see it on TV; you can see many things on TV but it's not the same as being there. Even as I write this I am watching the MotoGP on the telly but I'd rather be there in person. This monarch Lying-in-State is an event that has happened once in 70 years, it's not as if we've had a lot of practice. Let people queue if they want, I think it's a lovely thing to do and if I lived in London I might have considered it. No one is being forced, if one doesn't want to do it one doesn't have to.

 

[sphexx]

I'd heard about MP's and the like getting priority access to avoid the que, which IMO was wrong. I just think in this day and age with the technology available the system used to allow people to see the Queen Lying-in-State and queuing for hours was just so unnecessary.

No expert on this but isn’t Westminster Hall part of the ”Palace of Westminster” and therefore the MPs place of work?

There is a touch of irony here, it being the venue for the trial of King Charles 1st. Hope the funeral doesn‘t start from The Banqueting House.

 

[tarric]

Rank hath it's privileges but aside from that, how could an MP pay their respects to the Queen when for 10 hours in a queue they would be spoken at and badgered by people with opposing views, making a mockery of the whole respectful thing? Would it be appropriate for the Prime Minister to be queueing up? People would just wonder why she was wasting her time in a queue. People have been asked about their experience queueing up and the responses have been overwhelmingly positive.




What do you suggest they should have done then? Everyone can see it on TV; you can see many things on TV but it's not the same as being there. Even as I write this I am watching the MotoGP on the telly but I'd rather be there in person. This monarch Lying-in-State is an event that has happened once in 70 years, it's not as if we've had a lot of practice. Let people queue if they want, I think it's a lovely thing to do and if I lived in London I might have considered it. No one is being forced, if one doesn't want to do it one doesn't have to.

What rank do these politicians have, I get that there are a few Sirs, but most have no rank higher than the average person in the country. Outside a few well-known MP's most would go unrecognised by the public. You seem to have a poor view of the people lining up to pay their respects to the Queen, as for the time they would have to spend in the queue, well seeing as parliament has not sat since the 9th of Sept and is not due to reopen till the 21st if members wish to take the oath or make the affirmation although this is not a procedural or statutory requirement if not then the 22nd, I see no reason that the majority should they wish could not have joined the queue and even if some were to be given dispensation to queue jump why did they need 4 additional passes. As for the PM I see no reason for her to attend the public Lying-in State as she and many other senior politicians attended Westminster Hall at the beginning of the Lying-in-State period.

You seem to be misunderstanding me on this part I'm not on about stopping people attending the Lying-in-State. I just don't think in this day and age with the technology we have there is a need to stand in a queue for up to 24 hours, I feel that a better solution could have been found to allow people to attend in person. I understand that there would have been a need for some queueing to get through security and the like, but I think a better system was well within the abilities of the people who organised it given that they have had decades to plan it.

 

[Pound Coin]

The trouble with tech solutions is that they exclude those without the tech, or the wherewithal to use tech.

 

[sphexx]

What rank do these politicians have, I get that there are a few Sirs, but most have no rank higher than the average person in the country. Outside a few well-known MP's most would go unrecognised by the public. You seem to have a poor view of the people lining up to pay their respects to the Queen, as for the time they would have to spend in the queue, well seeing as parliament has not sat since the 9th of Sept and is not due to reopen till the 21st if members wish to take the oath or make the affirmation although this is not a procedural or statutory requirement if not then the 22nd, I see no reason that the majority should they wish could not have joined the queue and even if some were to be given dispensation to queue jump why did they need 4 additional passes. As for the PM I see no reason for her to attend the public Lying-in State as she and many other senior politicians attended Westminster Hall at the beginning of the Lying-in-State period.

You seem to be misunderstanding me on this part I'm not on about stopping people attending the Lying-in-State. I just don't think in this day and age with the technology we have there is a need to stand in a queue for up to 24 hours, I feel that a better solution could have been found to allow people to attend in person. I understand that there would have been a need for some queueing to get through security and the like, but I think a better system was well within the abilities of the people who organised it given that they have had decades to plan it.

They could have used a ticket system like in a food counter etc but you miss the point that there would be no “spectacle”

 

[Pound Coin]

They have used a ticket system. The wristbands are numbered.

 

[Deleted member 68495]

What rank do these politicians have, I get that there are a few Sirs, but most have no rank higher than the average person in the country. Outside a few well-known MP's most would go unrecognised by the public. You seem to have a poor view of the people lining up to pay their respects to the Queen, as for the time they would have to spend in the queue, well seeing as parliament has not sat since the 9th of Sept and is not due to reopen till the 21st if members wish to take the oath or make the affirmation although this is not a procedural or statutory requirement if not then the 22nd, I see no reason that the majority should they wish could not have joined the queue and even if some were to be given dispensation to queue jump why did they need 4 additional passes. As for the PM I see no reason for her to attend the public Lying-in State as she and many other senior politicians attended Westminster Hall at the beginning of the Lying-in-State period.

You seem to be misunderstanding me on this part I'm not on about stopping people attending the Lying-in-State. I just don't think in this day and age with the technology we have there is a need to stand in a queue for up to 24 hours, I feel that a better solution could have been found to allow people to attend in person. I understand that there would have been a need for some queueing to get through security and the like, but I think a better system was well within the abilities of the people who organised it given that they have had decades to plan it.

I must take issue with your statement in red above and don't understand how you have derived this from my post. I have nothing but admiration for the people who have queued to pay their respects to the Queen and, as I said, had I lived in London I may well have taken up the challenge as well -- and challenge it must be, walking slowly for long hours through the night in many cases.

I don't know why people were issued with extra passes -- and didn't know they were but I bow to your knowledge on this matter -- and I don't know who was allowed to jump the queue and who was not. What I do know is that in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter. The processions, the pomp and circumstance, the vigil, the queue to pay respect, the military drills, the organisation, et al. makes up what it is to be a monarchy with one of the longest serving royal heads of state in all history. I'm glad there is all this mourning at her death and the celebrations of her life and although there will be changes, I hope much of it will continue with King Charles III reign.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

The Speaker has lost the plot.

View: https://BANNED/zero_4/status/1571420076385136640?s=21&t=aH8gBkL0ief_tWjjphqpYQ

 

[sphexx]

They have used a ticket system. The wristbands are numbered.

So you can go away and come back when your number is displayed? I haven’t seen anything like that — though I’m not an avid watcher. I’m guessing that’s just an anti queue-jumping device?

 

[tarric]

I must take issue with your statement in red above and don't understand how you have derived this from my post. I have nothing but admiration for the people who have queued to pay their respects to the Queen and, as I said, had I lived in London I may well have taken up the challenge as well -- and challenge it must be, walking slowly for long hours through the night in many cases.

I don't know why people were issued with extra passes -- and didn't know they were but I bow to your knowledge on this matter -- and I don't know who was allowed to jump the queue and who was not. What I do know is that in the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter. The processions, the pomp and circumstance, the vigil, the queue to pay respect, the military drills, the organisation, et al. makes up what it is to be a monarchy with one of the longest serving royal heads of state in all history. I'm glad there is all this mourning at her death and the celebrations of her life and although there will be changes, I hope much of it will continue with King Charles III reign.

You seem to have a poor view of the people lining up to pay their respects to the Queen,

I was taken my reply from this in your initial reply @Post #175

how could an MP pay their respects to the Queen when for 10 hours in a queue they would be spoken at and badgered by people with opposing views,

It's not bowing to my knowledge, it's common knowledge it's on numerous news feeds and I believe even posted here on a number of occasions.
We will have to just agree to disagree on that.
I too am glad to see the nation and beyond mourning her death and celebrate her life, I just think that there was no need for the excessive IMO queueing to attend the Lying-in-State and that a better system could and should have been put in place but as @sphexx put it " but you miss the point that there would be no spectacle”, maybe that was the point I don't know.

 

[Deleted member 95743]

And some of the mourners are now so overcome with grief that they are having to sell their wristbands on Ebay for £5000.

 

[Tringa]

And some of the mourners are now so overcome with grief that they are having to sell their wristbands on Ebay for £5000.

I heard something similar but Ebay have now blocked the sale of the wrist bands. I wonder if anyone sold a band before the block? I can't think why anyone would pay for one, other than to make out they had been there - which is pretty pathetic.

Dave

 

[Cockney]

I heard something similar but Ebay have now blocked the sale of the wrist bands. I wonder if anyone sold a band before the block? I can't think why anyone would pay for one, other than to make out they had been there - which is pretty pathetic.

Dave

Always the same for an event. X turn up 10X swear they were there.

 

[Pound Coin]

So you can go away and come back when your number is displayed? I haven’t seen anything like that — though I’m not an avid watcher. I’m guessing that’s just an anti queue-jumping device?

Yes, i think it is so you can go pee, buy food, etc

 

[dcash29]

I was taken my reply from this in your initial reply @Post #175



It's not bowing to my knowledge, it's common knowledge it's on numerous news feeds and I believe even posted here on a number of occasions.
We will have to just agree to disagree on that.
I too am glad to see the nation and beyond mourning her death and celebrate her life, I just think that there was no need for the excessive IMO queueing to attend the Lying-in-State and that a better system could and should have been put in place but as @sphexx put it " but you miss the point that there would be no spectacle”, maybe that was the point I don't know.

What is the better option?

 

[dcash29]

So you can go away and come back when your number is displayed? I haven’t seen anything like that — though I’m not an avid watcher. I’m guessing that’s just an anti queue-jumping device?

You obviously didn't go and queue up

 

[sphexx]

What is the better option?

I already suggested one better system.The wrist bands were numbered so they had only to display the current back end number of a short queue (maybe online!) so people could get their chitty and come back later.

 

[sphexx]

You obviously didn't go and queue up

I didn’t go or watch, not my ’scene’. I didn’t watch the coronation (aged 16, I think) either but walked the deserted street of my home town

 

[Pound Coin]

I already suggested one better system.The wrist bands were numbered so they had only to display the current back end number of a short queue (maybe online!) so people could get their chitty and come back later.

Where would the number have been displayed? On a moving (backwards) motor car like the timer vehicle at a half marathon? one of the beauties of the queue was that it didn’t cross roads. So no vehicles.

Maybe have somewhere where 50,000 people could stand around and wait? Even just 5,000 standing around waiting would have filled that bridge. Or maybe make them queue somewhere else, or several places, have queues for queues!

 

[sphexx]

Where would the number have been displayed? On a moving (backwards) motor car like the timer vehicle at a half marathon? one of the beauties of the queue was that it didn’t cross roads. So no vehicles.

Maybe have somewhere where 50,000 people could stand around and wait? Even just 5,000 standing around waiting would have filled that bridge. Or maybe make them queue somewhere else, or several places, have queues for queues!

Go shopping?

 

[dcash29]

I already suggested one better system.The wrist bands were numbered so they had only to display the current back end number of a short queue (maybe online!) so people could get their chitty and come back later.

It would be like going to a doctor's appointment, where many cant be bother to show up. Knowing where the people are is a requirement to make it work. However, I believe you are missing the whole point of queuing. Shopping!

 

[sphexx]

It would be like going to a doctor's appointment, where many cant be bother to show up. Knowing where the people are is a requirement to make it work. However, I believe you are missing the whole point of queuing. Shopping!

If they don’t show up they’d lose their place!

 

[dcash29]

If they don’t show up they’d lose their place!

So where would you hold all these people, some early, some late, some totally confused. A queue maybe along the Thames?
Like a lot of people in the queue, you are not aware of the full logistics or restrictions.

 

[cambsno]

I think a queue was the best thing, otherwise you have confused people not knowing where to be, some trying to get in when they shouldnt, a queue is simple.

 

[sphexx]

So where would you hold all these people, some early, some late, some totally confused. A queue maybe along the Thames?
Like a lot of people in the queue, you are not aware of the full logistics or restrictions.

I don’t actually think “holding” them is the problem, I (slightly) joked about shopping but there are lots of things to do in London.

The major problem would be sorting out their place in the queue when they retuned. Easy enough with a queue if 20\50\100 but for thousands … !

 

[dcash29]

I don’t actually think “holding” them is the problem, I (slightly) joked about shopping but there are lots of things to do in London.

The major problem would be sorting out their place in the queue when they retuned. Easy enough with a queue if 20\50\100 but for thousands … !

Ok. As a result, I conclude that you did not propose a plan to meet the requirements and the best logistical operation was implemented.

 

[tarric]

What is the better option?

Just about anything would have been better than the system they had in place.

Ok. As a result, I conclude that you did not propose a plan to meet the requirements and the best logistical operation was implemented.

Having read through your replies to others, you think that the best the people who devised the plan could come up with was for people to queue for multiple hours including overnight (thank whoever she didn't die in January), there were many ways his could and should have been improved but of course whatever I put up as an alternative you will find some fault with so I will just leave you in your state of omniscience.

 

[dcash29]

Just about anything would have been better than the system they had in place.



Having read through your replies to others, you think that the best the people who devised the plan could come up with was for people to queue for multiple hours including overnight (thank whoever she didn't die in January), there were many ways his could and should have been improved but of course whatever I put up as an alternative you will find some fault with so I will just leave you in your state of omniscience.

These ideas always seem to appear after the event by people who are not affected.