The Queen

Yes, I think the height restriction went.

 

PC gone mad.

 

Ha! They're also fat and scruffy. The new military style uniforms they wear are dreadful. Most of them could do with a hair cut too.

Christ, I'm a miserable old sod!

 

Have been taking a look at how they're setting up the queue for seeing the Queens coffin and I'll tell you one thing for free, the distance from registration to Westminster itself is going to finish off a few of the older mourners for sure. @UEA_Hornet , it might be good preparation for the marathon!

 

I saw this. The timing is a bit gobsmacking frankly.

 

The Royals have always been 'ruthless' employers (and parsimonious if gossip from people when I lived in Windsor is to believed) and the Crown Estates are a very 'commercially astute' organisation. The King has always envisaged a much smaller 'working' royal family and a lot of heads will role.

 

We don't. It's a misconception.

If someone is saying or doing something that "may" cause a public incident, the police are within their rights to stop you or request you stop. But it's a waste of their time arguing with idiots who think they are entitled to make placards such as "not my king" on them and raise then without concern. If the empty paper guy was near the other placard it's somewhat reasonable to ask him not to write anything in it or enquire to his name and address. Frankly it's these people who need to stay at home and stop wasting police resources.

 

British Cycling makes itself look very silly by asking people not to ride their bikes during the funeral.

I ride alot and I’m pretty sure I’ve been cycling while there have been funerals taking place somewhere. It’s not disrespectful. And as Monday is a BH I’ll probably go out then.

And British Cycling needs to understand that while it promotes cycling and is the governing body for cycle sport, it has no jurisdiction over people simply riding bikes.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...uneral-u-turn-after-ridicule?CMP=share_btn_tw

 

I went for a bicycle road during Princess Diana's funeral. Had the roads to myself it was great

 

Yes, but you didn’t have to ride into Westminster Abbey as Elton was launching into Goodbye England’s Rose.

 

I went for a hoon on my Honda Firestorm. Roads were completely empty. Binned it on the Bell roundabout in London Colney, writing it off. Bit of a wake up call. Gave up motorcycling for 14 years, as we had a 9 month old baby.

 

It's certainly a solemn occasion and so I really don't understand the compulsion from people to applaud, especially for someone of the Queen's generation, though at least the whopping and cheering that welcomed her coffin back to Buckingham Palace last night hasn't been repeated.

 

I'm surprised who engrossing it is. I put it on for "5 minutes" - an hour later...

 

I think too many people have carried on breathing in insensitive disregard of the Queen, who is now unable to do so.

Could all those people who want to use this event to control others please refrain from breathing until after the funeral?

 

The Queen’s funeral being on Monday has increased attention on other events that day, notably that the 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Could the events be combined? Maybe the service. We have come together to remember the life of Elizabeth Aaarrrggghh.

 

At least another two more years of therapy for Harry after this

 

I hear they are shutting down the internet on Monday.
It’s what she would have wanted.

 

I really enjoyed this one. It would be fantastic if we could have more - say every quarter. The public could vote for the person they want to get a state funeral. Would make great Saturday night tele. Maybe Ant and Dec could host it?

 

It would spice things up even more if the candidate celebrities were there in the studio as the vote takes place and the winner gets led off stage immediately to ‘prepare’ for their state funeral, which takes place as the credits roll.

 

I’m a celebrity, get me out of here: coffin edition

 

The whole thing is ludicrous and bonkers.

There’s a YouTube live stream showing the queue. There’s another live stream showing people, hours later, walk into the room with the coffin, bow and walk promptly out.

I think I love it.

There is something beautiful and defiant about our willingness to embrace our eccentricities with less cynicism than usual. It’s nice that we’re generally not taking ourselves seriously or trying to pretend that most culture and social convention makes any sense anyway.

I was enthralled and even slightly emotionally touched by a coffin with a crown on it, being marched along a 10 minute journey I do daily.

And who doesn’t have a huge amount of pride and admiration for a well organised queue.

Like I say, I’ve leant in and I love where I’m from more because of the weirdness. We do it really, really well.

Give me an Olympics-esque montage of the mourning period and there will be no going back.

 

Reminds me of the lyrics to the Sex Pistols God Save the Queen.

God save your mad parade.

 

Ah yes, the pomp and ceremony for which we're famous the world over!

The smart uniforms, the marching, the feathered hats. Glorious!


Mind you, I'd prefer it if we were famous the world over for how well we look after our elderly people or our kindness and tolerance for refugees or something like that.

 

Turned on BBC news this morning for the first time in a few days and managed to stand it for about 5 minutes this time.

I learned that the queue to see the coffin was 3 miles long. Then a few minutes later it was 2 miles long. They must be moving them through very quickly.

I also learned that today's Daily Mail is a "visual feast" of royal photos. I was reminded that it was a "visual feast" a few moments later by the other presenter and then not a minute later was told again about the Daily Mail and what a "visual feast" it is today. Rush out and buy a copy now folks!

There was also some news about "Putin" and the cowardly, evil Russians fleeing before the triumphant advance of the gallant Ukrainians. Some local councillors in Russia have even called for "Putin" to go! There was an interview with one of them, who spoke English very well. Of course, councillors "hold very little sway" over the Kremlin sighed the presenter. How different from our own democracy where the thoughts of local Parish councillors hold enormous power over the government. However, it's unknown what the "Russian Elites" think about Putin and whether he should go or not. They're the ones with the real power to decide. Fancy them having powerful elites over there eh? How anti-democractic!

Now, back to Oxbridge Charlie in the studio and some more fawning coverage of the death of our unelected hereditary head of state and the assorted dukes, barons, lords and duchesses. Gord bless 'em every one!

 

According to Wiki, he went to Birmingham Poly.