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The Lying in State

(63 Posts)
MawtheMerrier Wed 14-Sept-22 22:19:03

Are you there? Did you go? Do you plan to? Would you have liked to?
When the Queen Mum lay in state I promised myself that when the Queen died I would go to her lying in state.
But of course I haven’t- I can’t sleep on pavements, I’d be on my own, what would I do about food/drink/loos? So of course I have chickened out - but I sneakily wish I had had the confidence and nerve to try.
It’s too late now as I am off to Paris for the weekend on Friday (although slightly dreading the €* back on Sunday night which could be horrendous.)

B9exchange Thu 15-Sept-22 19:38:27

Sorry I meant Westminster Hall! It is just over the road, opposite St Margaret's Church. smile

M0nica Thu 15-Sept-22 19:19:53

I went to the Lying in State and Funeral for Winston Churchill, but cannot go anywhere at the moment as I am down with COVID.

DD is going because she says it is a moment in history and she wants to be part of it. She will be starting her queueing tomorrow evening after work.

hollysteers Thu 15-Sept-22 19:10:55

NotAGran55 I’m planning to do the same myself as my daughter lives in Windsor.
My fervid royalist friend has not contacted me about going to the lying in state, which I vaguely mentioned being interested in weeks and weeks ago, when the Queen’s passing was mentioned.
I’m hoping I’m off the hook…

Washerwoman Thu 15-Sept-22 18:55:12

I think what's lovely is that everyone interviewed in the queue is saying what a calm and friendly atmosphere there is.And how many people are making people they would otherwise never met.That is heartening.And an example of the best of our country.Important to me even though I'm not going myself.And makes a change from the negativity and cynicism so often prevalent nowadays.

MawtheMerrier Thu 15-Sept-22 18:46:11

but I was able to walk past St Margaret's Hall where she is lying in state, and opposite is the small but beautiful St Margaret's Church
So close B9exchange ! But to avoid confusion , the Lying in State is at Westminster Hall within the Palace of Westminster is it not?

B9exchange Thu 15-Sept-22 18:39:10

Just back from London, I walked round the outside of Buckingham Palace, then into Green Park to see the flowers, the scent of which was amazing. I then walked to Westminster, I could not queue for that length of time, but I was able to walk past St Margaret's Hall where she is lying in state, and opposite is the small but beautiful St Margaret's Church, where you can go in, sit down in the quiet a couple of hundred yards from the coffin and say a prayer or just collect your thoughts and say Goodbye.

Yammy Thu 15-Sept-22 15:07:59

As I said in another post if the coffin had gone by train I would have gone to the end of the village where the main North /South line runs and stood and shown my respect, but would not travel further.

NotAGran55 Thu 15-Sept-22 15:03:06

At some point in the future, when I’m in Windsor, I will visit St George’s Chapel and pay my respects privately as I did for the Queen Mother.
My way of doing things may not be the same as many, but thankfully we are all different.

sodapop Thu 15-Sept-22 14:47:11

Sparklefizz

Interviewer to child in the queue to pay respects to the Queen:

Interviewer: "Why are you here?"

Child: "Because she's been the Queen my whole life."

"How old are you?"

Child: 8

I loved it.

I saw that as well Sparklefizz made me smile smile

MawtheMerrier Thu 15-Sept-22 14:13:40

As sad as it is that our Queen has died,i honestly cant see the point in going too see a flag over a coffin,i can see that on TV

Misses the point completely but your opinion - if not mine.

timetogo2016 Thu 15-Sept-22 13:41:51

As sad as it is that our Queen has died,i honestly cant see the point in going too see a flag over a coffin,i can see that on TV.
I can mourn like the rest of the world in the comfort of my home.
And tbh,i would more than likely burst into tears.

Fleurpepper Thu 15-Sept-22 13:35:19

As said, there are several official descriptions, as posted above.

Elegran Thu 15-Sept-22 13:32:26

I'd have said that the word for enjoying watching other people's suffering or problems is "schadenfreud" Voyeurism is enjoying watching other people's sexual antics or watching them being naked while they are unaware of you looking at them.

Fleurpepper Thu 15-Sept-22 13:09:25

Zoejory

Fleurpepper

A difficult question. But where does 'respect start and 'voyeurism' begin? Perhaps for another thread.

I doubt voyeurism will ever begin.

Definition of voyeurism the activity of getting pleasure from secretly watching other people in sexual situations or, more generally, from watching other people's private lives

Not much private about a state funeral

There are many official descriptions of the word.

2. uncountable noun

If you describe someone's behaviour as voyeurism, you disapprove of them because you think they enjoy watching other people's suffering or problems.

volver Thu 15-Sept-22 13:07:11

silverlining48

It’s inevitable I suppose that the Queens death will allow debate about independence of particular countries, both near and far. Scotland among them probably. I have no tie to Scotland, but would be sorry if they decided to leave the UK. Wales too though probably less likely, but it’s up to them of course.

Although many will no doubt think it inappropriate, please can I point out that independence for nations has nothing to do with the monarchy. An independent Scotland would still have King Charles as Head of State. He's our King too.

ixion Thu 15-Sept-22 13:06:26

Delighted to see that unused food and drink is being collected for donation to food banks.
Bravo.

Jaxjacky Thu 15-Sept-22 13:03:06

karmalady I believe those of a certain age or with a disability are being fast tracked to minimise their wait.

Kim19 Thu 15-Sept-22 12:43:16

GSM, it was a kind of sunhat. Decidedly feminine and in no way offensive. In the Puglia area it happened. I'm still confused but....hey....

Zoejory Thu 15-Sept-22 12:20:41

Fleurpepper

A difficult question. But where does 'respect start and 'voyeurism' begin? Perhaps for another thread.

I doubt voyeurism will ever begin.

Definition of voyeurism the activity of getting pleasure from secretly watching other people in sexual situations or, more generally, from watching other people's private lives

Not much private about a state funeral

silverlining48 Thu 15-Sept-22 12:19:24

It’s inevitable I suppose that the Queens death will allow debate about independence of particular countries, both near and far. Scotland among them probably. I have no tie to Scotland, but would be sorry if they decided to leave the UK. Wales too though probably less likely, but it’s up to them of course.

MayBee70 Thu 15-Sept-22 12:08:37

Some very sarcastic comments re queuing from a Facebook friend. I was going to point out that no one is being forced to queue and the queuing itself is bringing people together in much the same was that the peoples vote marches that we used to go on together did but in the end I kept quiet. For now. I think the Queens death has resulted in even more divisiveness in this country which saddens me greatly.

Fleurpepper Thu 15-Sept-22 12:04:26

A difficult question. But where does 'respect start and 'voyeurism' begin? Perhaps for another thread.

Katek Thu 15-Sept-22 12:02:43

We debated going to Edinburgh but it’s around a 3hr drive each way. DH thought we could just go down and back again but we would have been exhausted by the time you added in the queuing time. It was quite a short window to try and organise a trip, but we did go to Balmoral on Saturday so I’m content with having paid my respects there.

karmalady Thu 15-Sept-22 12:02:38

some visitors are getting special treatment and ushered to the front. Who are they?

karmalady Thu 15-Sept-22 11:48:19

Thanks sago. I found livestream on red button on tv. Freeview channel 601

I won`t be glued to tv but will pop in at times. Wish I could have paid my respects in person to our queen who did so much for us and so selflessly. RIP