The Queen…

Have just heard on the radio that the queue now is only about an hour in Edinburgh.
Now might be the time for anyone who still would like to go.

Kim19 my friend is getting the last bus into town tonight to join the queue. She's expecting to be there all night!

Scotland have done her proud, very moving and beautiful

Elegran, sorry it's a bit belated but thanks for your response to my request for info on the vigil in St Giles. I'm going to give it my best shot at what I think will be the optimum time for fewer crowds (huh!). I can but try.....

I’ll try to find where I read it. I love the riding out ceremonies. Managed to see the Coldstream one o few years ago and Berwick had one recently. But I always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to seeing them. Met a lovely American lady today who was driving up to Edinburgh today and her hotel was close to the cathedral so she was wondering if they would be able to get to their hotel. And I’ve seen more corgis today than I’ve seen in decades. It’s made their owners quite celebrities.

Someone told me that the Riding would be round the old city walls, (what remains of them) but I don't know if that is true.

There can't be a traditional common riding for Edinburgh because modern Edinburgh encompasses lots of former villages such as Colinton, Muttonhole, and Corstorphine, and also former privately owned estates such as Barnton, Muirfield, or the parts of the New Town.

I wonder if The Meadows was common land at one time.

MayBee70 I have lived in Edinburgh for over sixty years and have never heard of riding the bounds in Edinburgh. Border horsemen anually ride the marches of their town, accompanied by many on foot ( traditionally lots of youngsters were shown the markers of the boundaries and to fix them in their minds were beaten - lightly I hope) but this is the first I have heard of it being done in Edinburgh.

Aveline

*MayBe70*. Have you seen the photos of the crowds? The whole area is jam packed. Very long queues are to be expected. I seriously think you might be best watching it all from home. Don't make yourself unwell.

Thanks Aveline. I think I just wanted to feel close to her. I had thought she would be taken South by train and we could have watched the train go past. The pictures of the tractors and the horses lining the road had me in tears again! I believe it should have been Edinburghs riding out ceremony at the weekend which had to be cancelled ( note to self, must go to that next year: I didn’t know Edinburgh had one) so lots of riders would have been ready to do something. I’ve also realised why I’m so sad. It’s seeing all the pictures of her as a young girl with her whole life ahead of her. Throughout my life I’ve always thought of The Queen as being old because she’s been 26 years older than me so I’ve never thought of her as a young person. To compound it all in the sketch with Paddington that beaming smile at the end was the smile of a young person. We’ll never see her like again.

BBC Breakfast are doing their best to put people off coming to London to view the coffin. Queues of over 30 hours with basic facilities are predicted.
I'll watch on TV.

MayBe70. Have you seen the photos of the crowds? The whole area is jam packed. Very long queues are to be expected. I seriously think you might be best watching it all from home. Don't make yourself unwell.

I’m toying with the idea of travelling to Edinburgh on Tuesday as The Queen won’t be leaving till later in the day. I know it will be packed and I doubt if I’ll get into the Cathedral. But I’ve got a very busy day on Wednesday and I get tired these days.

Aveline thanks fir the update, you must be very happy to have been able to witness the last journey of the queen and explain to your gs a little of what was going on. If he’s old enough he will remember this day and his granny too.

Amalegra

At heart I am a Republican. However I do believe that for the foreseeable future the UK is best served by a monarchy. There are checks and balances in the system we have at present which aim to prevent the abuse of power by an individual and which protect the personal freedoms we hold dear. With the recent furore accompanying the election of a new Conservative party leader, I dread to think how a presidential election would pan out! And then a Head of State with executive powers or not? I regret the elitist class system which promotes division in society but even Republics have a variety of this! Best keep as it is at the moment provided our monarch shows the same dedication and moral integrity as our late lamented Queen. A little more egalitarian approach as per Scandinavian royalty would be welcome though!

Good post!
My partner is Scandinavian - and a Republican. His reaction to the news that she had died was genuine sadness - he said that he'd really hoped she'd live to see 100 and would receive millions of cards congratulating HER on reaching the centenary!

silverlining48 I'm just back from seeing the cortege pass. The road was very crowded and it's a very long one. Lots of young families trying to get their children to understand the significance of it. My youngest GS asked what he should do. I facetiously suggested that he could salute. He then saluted every motorbike outrider and vehicle in the cortege. One of the policemen nodded back which made his day.
It was running about half an hour late but the atmosphere was very nice. Everyone talking to everyone else. Selfies galore which I wasn't keen on but that's modern life.

Joseanne-well done for trying. I’m sure it will have been correct.

I'm feeling a bit homesick here in France today. I went to morning service at one of the few Anglican churches. I came out a bit early before the Communion part (by choice) and was interviewed in the church yard by a French radio station. I hope I said all the right things, I was feeling a bit disoriented to have to express my feelings of sorrow for The Queen in a foreign tongue.
Macron's tribute was beautiful.

How was it Aveline? I have Just put tv on to see how lovely Scotland is, with plenty of room fir everyone to see the Queens cars as they drive by.

London is going to be very different. Crammed pavements 10 deep, tallest at the front usually ( I am 5’) so with a reasonably new hip I can’t risk it, wiser to stay home.

The story behind the Queen's Bond appearance (2012 Olympics) and tea with Paddington.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/sep/11/when-we-asked-queen-to-tea-with-paddington-something-magic-happened-most-lovely-goodbye

I agree Grayling1. I watched some of the coverage this morning as the cortege left Balmoral and proceeded through villages and towns. It was very peaceful and respectful. My earlier comments were referring to the walkabout by King Charles at Buckingham palace and William and Kate along with Harry and Meghan at Windsor.

Grannynannywanny - I was referring to the coverage of the cortege route today and the fact that there was no clapping or throwing of flowers which is quite often carried out by the public. Maybe that will come later upon arrival at the Scottish cities.

I doubt there'll be barriers near us. I'll dress appropriately for the weather and stand in silence. It's very long road so I doubt we'll be closely packed.

I wonder if the people who lined the barriers hoping to pay their respects viewed the tv footage when they returned home. Almost all of them had mobile phones and their behaviour was anything but respectful thrusting the phones into their faces. Offering their sympathy with one hand while filming with the other. It was cringeworthy.

Thanks Eveline for timetable. Very uplifting to see the respect that is being shown. I am finding the respect being paid to the cortege along the route very appropriate - the silence that is being observed as mark of respect rather than the clapping that is usual these days.

Volver

Enough now. I've started a new thread.

Show some respect.

Oh the irony!