The age of those flocking to see the cortege of the Queen and to the lying in state.

I can’t get to London, so I went I into Paris today, to sign the book of condolence. I felt is was the least I could do but the return trip from door to door, didn’t take as much time those queuing to Westminster Hall.

I know, from speaking to friends who are not monarchists, that some people are attending various events because there has been so much coverage throughout the media that they feel such a historic occasion should not be missed, especially in terms of their children's memories.

Personally, I think the coverage has been excessive and the messages that come up on my phone from various organisations expressing their condolences strike me as surplus to requirements.

As for people waiting in line for up to nine hours, I really do not understand this mass hysteria.

We already have a huge backlog of treatment in the NHS and yet no appointments will proceed on Monday, even for patients with potentially life threatening conditions who have already had significant delays in diagnosis and treatment. Apparently Centre Parcs have told people who are staying with them that there will be virtually no amenities available to them on Monday and, worse still, people who are booked in for Monday will now have to start their holiday on Tuesday. How can this be justified?

Going back to the OP, we are spending a disproportionate amount of time on Britain/the UK becoming a republic. At best we seem to be talking about the views of only a quarter of the population. I imagine that has dropped with what most would see as the reminders just what they have done for our country (while being human, of course).

As I posted previously, there is a lot of support for the monarchy in each age group, barring the 18-24s who come closer. Young people are generally caught-up with their own lives, so I don't find it surprising. When asked "should we continue with the monarch, or should we have an elected Head of State instead" this group answered about a third/a third/a third. The "continue" group being slightly higher than the "elected" group, and the "don't knows" being the highest. In all other age groups, the "continue" groups were well ahead.

I do wonder what we are discussing here, although I would happily agree that has been wonderful to see the turnout of all the age-groups both to say thank you to someone who gave a lifetime of service and to enjoy being part of our history. I can see nothing wrong with that and a great deal that is right.

Eloethan I do think the word "hysteria" is totally inappropriate as is the suggestion that these people are not doing exactly what they each, individually, are choosing to do.

Normandygirl .. You might be right there ! and I could see the "glee" on the faces of those that were picked out to chat to the TV !

Good for them ?

My adult children are, surprisingly, taking an interest in the monarchic tradition because of all this! I have tried to carefully explain over the years the role of a constitutional monarch in a democracy but they have never been very engaged. I feel it’s important for the younger generation to know the checks and balances such a system provides and how it may benefit the country, although there are of course other constitutional models to consider. I am not into the cult of personality surrounding members of the RF although I think her late Majesty did a superb job and that certain members who live abroad are neither useful or advantageous to this particular Firm.

I went to Winston Churchill's lying in state in 1965. I was 24 and queued for an hour or two in the snow to get in to where his
coffin was. It looked just like the Queen's lying in state as seen on TV. I am so glad I went.

I honour and respect the late queen. I think she had a difficult job, thrust upon her and did it excellently. I will pray for her and her family, especially the new King Charles - his mother will be a hard act to follow.
BUT I can't see the point of standing for- not just hours but days - in a queue to walk past a closed coffin "to pay your respects". Far better to watch the procedure in comfort on TV I wonder how many extra patients the London hospitals will have because people have chosen to stand for ages exposed to our uncertain weather? Aren't the NHS busy enough?

I'm not a royalist but have always had the greatest respect for the queen. However, I cannot understand people queueing for hours to look at her coffin, especially with children in tow. I don't agree with children under 16 at funerals either.
People can see everything on TV on all the main channels and news channels. IMO the only people who should attend and file past the coffin are her family and her friends, and those she decorated with medals, OBE, etc.

Please do not do a disservice to our younger community ! Many realise we live in very trying unusual times and want a stable happy future ! I suspect they perceived the Queen as a stable influence in their lives! Many I know are not particularly Monarchists or Royalists but do respect the monarch being head of state ! They are showing respect by being there as well as wanting to witness an enormous event ! Good for them ! I shall watch from the comfort of my living room and remember my wonderful mum who died Sept 19th 2014 , surname Pope ! Celebrating a Queen and a Pope on the same day !

I had been wondering about how young people viewed the monarchy but I was with my 16 year old granddaughter when the news broke and she was in tears

Very many of the British public have experience of other systems and regimes (for many reasons) and do appreciate that mad though our system seems on paper, it is very hard to find one that works better.

GrannyGear

I honour and respect the late queen. I think she had a difficult job, thrust upon her and did it excellently. I will pray for her and her family, especially the new King Charles - his mother will be a hard act to follow.
BUT I can't see the point of standing for- not just hours but days - in a queue to walk past a closed coffin "to pay your respects". Far better to watch the procedure in comfort on TV I wonder how many extra patients the London hospitals will have because people have chosen to stand for ages exposed to our uncertain weather? Aren't the NHS busy enough?

There were 397 needing medical treatment and 17 admissions to hospital as of yesterday.

But we can actually be rid of them if we want.

I agree, Blondiescot

I’ve simply loved watching all the coverage. All of it. Everyone’s reactions. People sharing anecdotes and reminiscing. Tears, smiles, sadness, shock, loss, happy memories, funny stories.
I think it’s all appropriate.
Anyone who isn’t interested doesn’t have to watch or read a moment’s coverage.
Everyone who is interested can take it all in.
Thank you British media for allowing me to be a part of history, if only by observation.

When I was younger I didn’t think too much about the monarchy but as I got older became more aware of the world, world events and our place in the I began to appreciate them more.

Latest estimate is 14 hours in the queue. That's just madness to me - especially the ones with young children and even babies.

I'm a royalist but have always had the greatest respect for the queen. However, I cannot understand people queueing for hours to look at her coffin, especially with children in tow. I don't agree with children under 16 at funerals either.

Do we know if Prince George is attending the funeral at any point? William, or maybe Catherine, was telling people on the crowd how their eldest son understood all about it, compared with the other two.

I think a lot are also looking for something to put on tick-tock. Too. If I could stand for 14 hrs as that’s what it is now lol I think I would like to go but hotels have shot prices up and I couldn’t just go for a day plus my train fare and electric etc going up in next couple of weeks. I’m watching on tv and that way won’t miss a thing lol

Operation London Bridge has been planned for years but this last year the Civil Service preparation has been ramped up for obvious reasons. The smoothness of the media machine with its attendant saturation of much of the population's free thinking time has been engineered as part of the narrative to capture the attention of all generations because it was always going to be on the cards that the Queen's death might bring a huge watershed in opinion regarding the relevancy of the monarchy. So the queuing has been 'invited' by the publication in advance of the rules/facilities etc., a culture of "I have to be there, I must not miss out" has been capitalised upon, and people of all ages have responded to the invitations just to be part of history. My cousin in her 80s queued for 9 hours on Wednesday before the palace at Westminster opened (she can barely stand yet she did curtsey because she thought that was 'the done thing') and my teenage grandchildren tell me that their schools are very much into the media coverage when in fact they should be preparing for national examinations. So, my opinion is that when we see young people travelling and queueing, they are responding to the institutional machine without much personal autonomy.

I had a chat with the young girl who was doing my nails after the queen died and asked her opinion on the monarchy. She wasn't fussed but wasn't against the monarchy. I think King Charles and Camilla will help pull everyone together and with William and Kate following on with their far more modern look on life I think it will remain relevant. I think we should hold onto the Monarchy. I know not everyone will agree. Aveline I have empathy with your viewpoint. Thank goodness the Monarchy aren't political so we can get rid of politicians that we don't like. I think a lot of countries envy our pomp and ceremony.

Billybob4491
I would also of loved to of been part of this time in History as that is what it is . However the prospect of standing & walking (at a fast pace at that ) is what kept me home . Though saying that If One of my DD's or DS had shown the same interest in going maybe even with GC there would of been no stopping me x

I can hardly walk and am elderly. If I was able I would at the very least, be part of the crowd lining streets to watch her coffin pass.
She was a woman who had no choice in her career and I doubt if she wanted one. Yet she undertook a job that there were no holidays from and no way of escape from. Undertook it to her very end. She can rest in peace now. Her son is a capable man. May he have good health for his reign.