RIP Queen Elizabeth

[mjr]

Some radical neerdowell actually suggested that instead of physically queuing for 2 days, people who wanted to pay their respects in person could submit their request online and be given a time/date to turn up with minimal queuing time with special access for disabled, and if oversubscriibed some kind of first come or random lottery. Madness.

But then the news shows would be covering the fleecebay resales instead of the queue lengths, which might make people think about money and the monarchy together.

 

[Ian H]

Nice of Edna Krabappel to thank the Queen(?)

I thought there might be a very subtle reference to Wallis Simpson there.

 

[Ian H]

I will remain unaware of Guinea Pigs until further notice.

Some radical neerdowell actually suggested that instead of physically queuing for 2 days, people who wanted to pay their respects in person could submit their request online and be given a time/date to turn up with minimal queuing time with special access for disabled, and if oversubscriibed some kind of first come or random lottery. Madness.

They could combine it with something useful such as vaccinations.

 

[lazybloke]

This is a bit controversial, I have no disrespect for the Queen, and her death is sad but I find all this (IMO) over the top reaction quite disturbing, 3 mile queues to file past a cofin, Paddington Bears and marmalade sandwiches placed in parks, endless questions from reporters asking people how they feel, (do they not interview people who don't feel any differently) the lack of other news, and don't get me started on BCF or Center Parks.
Am I alone in thinking like this, it's just too much.

They do interview people who feel differently. I've seen several with the protesters, and discussion of their actions (which including swearing, heckling the royals and disrupting accession proclamations). Seems to me that this particular reporting was fair and balanced; including discussion and defence of the right to protest (within certain limits of public order).

But is the news reporting all "just too much"?
Not much different to normal; there has always far more news reporting than a person can possibly take in; for two weeks, some of it is more prominent than usual, that's all. But the sheer qty of news reporting on the main TV channels, the 24x7 news channels, newspapers, websites, apps, radio and redbutton services have always been at something like saturation level.

Is there too much about the Royal family?
Possibly, but the passing of the Queen is big news, as are the different steps taken towards her state funeral. So is the accession by a new King.

You're free to watch as much, or as little, as you wish, and if you don't like the particular content of a bulletin you might find better luck via red button, news channels, or online.


[minor typo edit]

 

[captain nemo1701]

No guarantee that someone else in her position would have performed so well, or become so manifestly well loved, or would do in the future. She just happened to be the right person at the right time.

I think a lot of the adulation comes from the older generation whom went through WW2 with her. Now Charlie's on the throne (and how long will he last?), I think maybe the adulation will wane. He's always had a bit of an odd relationship with the pro-royal Tory right wing press (who make wads of money out of the monarchy). I remember stories of him talking to his plants, always been a bit of an 'alternative hippy' type which today, right wing Tories would call 'woke'.

He's already said he'll shrink the monarchy as its becoming increasingly difficult to justify having one in a country full of food banks, homeless on the streets, fuel poverty,a cost of living crisis ongoing etc.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

But is the news reporting all "just too much"?
Not much different to normal

If you think the telly has been "normal" for the last week, you've not been watching.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

He's already said he'll shrink the monarchy

His track record in this regard is not encouraging, but we shall see.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/mar/23/rebel-prince-charles-tom-bower

 

[nickyboy]

I will remain unaware of Guinea Pigs until further notice.

Some radical neerdowell actually suggested that instead of physically queuing for 2 days, people who wanted to pay their respects in person could submit their request online and be given a time/date to turn up with minimal queuing time with special access for disabled, and if oversubscriibed some kind of first come or random lottery. Madness.

You could have screens that your number popped up on. Like Argos, albeit on a slightly larger scale...or maybe a numbered ticket system like the cheese counter in the local supermarket, that seems to work well

Joking aside, one does question how, given that every other detail of the funeral seems to have been planned in minute detail, someone has decided that making people queue for 10 hours or whatever was a good idea, when you could issue pretimed tickets. Amateur hour

Edit to add: The Republican in me assumes that for those organising the funeral, all the pageantry, all the dignitaries, all the ritual...that's what matters. Plebs...not so much

 

[captain nemo1701]

His track record in this regard is not encouraging, but we shall see.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/mar/23/rebel-prince-charles-tom-bower

This is what happens when society decides to elevate individuals to god-like royal status to be adored by the masses.

 

[T4tomo]

This is what happens when society decides to elevate individuals to god-like royal status to be adored by the masses.

leave the fecking Pope out of this...

 

[BoldonLad]

I think a lot of the adulation comes from the older generation whom went through WW2 with her. Now Charlie's on the throne (and how long will he last?), I think maybe the adulation will wane. He's always had a bit of an odd relationship with the pro-royal Tory right wing press (who make wads of money out of the monarchy). I remember stories of him talking to his plants, always been a bit of an 'alternative hippy' type which today, right wing Tories would call 'woke'.

He's already said he'll shrink the monarchy as its becoming increasingly difficult to justify having one in a country full of food banks, homeless on the streets, fuel poverty,a cost of living crisis ongoing etc.

After a quick google, I cannot find any figures for over 75's (which you would have to be to be alive during even the latter part of WW2), but, approximately 20% of the population are apparently over 65, so, a guesstimate at 7-8% over 75? Not a lot, and, if it is the older generation, there are some very young looking 75 year olds in that queue.

 

[Andy in Germany]

There will be those who say, what is the point of all this frivolity, the expensive uniforms, the outlay on policing and security? The answer lies in what the republics of the world do elsewhere.
<snip>
If the United Kingdom were to do away with this, we would only end up reinventing it all over again, and at similar cost. The objections of the nay-sayers are more a reflection of their own petty-mindedness than the mood of a nation.

No, we really don't.

Once again people keep asking me what on earth is going on in the UK: people here think it's a little odd, to be honest.

 

[newfhouse]

The queue is an interesting thing.

It runs along the South Bank from Bermondsey to Westminster. It's largely a straight -ish line, and it's not wide, from what I've seen just one or two people wide.

But why? Wouldn't it be better to use the space in, say Green Park and The Mall and thereabouts and make a snakey switchback queue. You could concentrate facilities like portaloos and avoid disruption.

There's probably a good reason, people have thought about this. Just wondering why have a queue like that. Security perhaps?

Why not just sail the coffin slowly past the queue several times a day? That would save all day queuing.

 

[captain nemo1701]

If the United Kingdom were to do away with this, we would only end up reinventing it all over again, and at similar cost. The objections of the nay-sayers are more a reflection of their own petty-mindedness than the mood of a nation.

If we did away with the monarchy, it would hopefully shut up the awful right wing Tory press who publish endless gushing articles about these people to flog papers. They don't like Harry & Meghan because by retiring from the bizarre version of a soap opera crossed with the Truman Show our monarchy is, they have not only spoilt the royalist fantasy, but have implicitly criticised the monarchy and the Tory press can't make much money out of them anymore. I've said it before, but a monarchy is a left-over from the feudal era and time it was pensioned off. I look at it and it just says 'old' in big letters.

 

[captain nemo1701]

leave the fecking Pope out of this...

Just as bad...