RIP HM Queen Elizabeth II

[DelayRepay]

I am watching the coverage of Her Majesty lying at rest in St Giles' Cathedral. What struck me was that almost all sections of society are represented in the crowds. There are old people, younger people, teenagers, and people of all ethnic backgrounds. It has been the same in London, and at Windsor.

I know not all of these people will be royalists, some will simply be there for the occasion, or to say they were present during a moment of history. But I suppose I was expecting to see a huge number of older women, when in fact I am seeing a representation of 21st century Britain.

 

[Butts]

Is it a little unfair that Wales is not represented on the Royal Standard ?

On the UK version there are two quarters with the English Lions, One with the Scottish Lion Rampant and the Irish Harp on the final quarter.

Mind you I suppose it is only a Principality with none of the trappings of a Sovereign State that Scotland has.

The Scottish Royal Standard reverses the ascendancy of the English Lions with two Lions Rampant instead and the Harp bringing up the rear.

 

[Gloster]

I think I read in the last few days that Charles has considered altering the Standard to include Wales. It seems that the layout of the standard (there is probably some heraldic term for that) is not fixed in perpetuity.

 

[Perthsaint]

I am watching the coverage of Her Majesty lying at rest in St Giles' Cathedral. What struck me was that almost all sections of society are represented in the crowds. There are old people, younger people, teenagers, and people of all ethnic backgrounds. It has been the same in London, and at Windsor.

I know not all of these people will be royalists, some will simply be there for the occasion, or to say they were present during a moment of history. But I suppose I was expecting to see a huge number of older women, when in fact I am seeing a representation of 21st century Britain.

Having spent 3 hours on the Royal Mile this afternoon I can assure you that the "older women" section of society was very well represented indeed.

One of the "older ladies" insisted I have a ham sandwich and an empire biscuit, both of which were very much appreciated.

 

[Busaholic]

I am watching the coverage of Her Majesty lying at rest in St Giles' Cathedral. What struck me was that almost all sections of society are represented in the crowds. There are old people, younger people, teenagers, and people of all ethnic backgrounds. It has been the same in London, and at Windsor.

I know not all of these people will be royalists, some will simply be there for the occasion, or to say they were present during a moment of history. But I suppose I was expecting to see a huge number of older women, when in fact I am seeing a representation of 21st century Britain.

It's not generally considered a good idea for 'older people' to stand virtually on the spot for hours at a time: too many collapsed gentlefolk would not make a very good news story, either!

 

[tomuk]

I think I read in the last few days that Charles has considered altering the Standard to include Wales. It seems that the layout of the standard (there is probably some heraldic term for that) is not fixed in perpetuity.

The standard/arms from Edward III up until 1800 had fleur-de-lis in at least one quadrant representing the claim to the French throne. As part of peace treaty negotiations with the new French republic and the revision of the coat of arms following the Union with Ireland they were removed.

The full coat of arms has a rampant lion and a unicorn on either side during the Tudor dynasty before the Union with Scotland the arms had a lion on one side and a welsh dragon on the other.

 

[AlterEgo]

Mind you I suppose it is only a Principality

You’ll have the Welsh on you for that! It used to be long ago, but no longer.

 

[WesternLancer]

Update from The Telegraph as follows:

Safety fears scotch plans to use Royal Train to transport Queen Elizabeth II to London

Decision causes dismay in rail industry, where staff were preparing to play their part in national mourning

www.telegraph.co.uk

Thanks for posting that story.
I agree with the quote from Nigel Harris.

All seems like predictable risk averse decision making to me....

 

[OuterDistant]

They couldn't really make any other decision, surely? The British public have unfortunately proven time and again that they can't be trusted to stay off the track, and it only takes one trespasser to wreck the funeral schedule with the world's media watching. It just isn't worth the risk.

 

[birchesgreen]

It would be Flying Scotsman x 1000 wouldn't it? Sad but inevitable decision.

 

[Yew]

According to Radio 4, some passers by were invited in to watch the Proclamation ceremony. Resulting in a mixture of full formal dress with raincoats and walking boots.

Given the life of outdoor adventure enjoyed by the Queen, Prince Phillip, and Charles - somehow I feel that it is entirely appropriate.

 

[Butts]

I think I read in the last few days that Charles has considered altering the Standard to include Wales. It seems that the layout of the standard (there is probably some heraldic term for that) is not fixed in perpetuity.

Mind you there is no Welsh representation on the Union Flag either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2022 ==

Excellent factoid. Love it.

How about another one - it's his Crown adorning the Queens Coffin in St Giles Cathedral.

The Crown of Scotland part of The Honours of Scotland refashioned for James V in 1540.

These Crown Jewels are the oldest extant ones in the UK, not to be confused with the whippersnappers that are housed in The Tower of London.

 

[Trackman]

Is it a little unfair that Wales is not represented on the Royal Standard ?

Someone asked me the other day about this - was something said on the telly/radio/press to trigger all this?

These Crown Jewels are the oldest extant ones in the UK, not to be confused with the whippersnappers that are housed in The Tower of London.

Indeed! and even me as a kid about 50 some years ago, but still thought it was the Queen's crown (spoiled the magic now).

 

[WesternLancer]

It looks as if EMR have some overnight extra trains STP to Derby in early hours of tues 20th Sept (looks like 1.15, 2.15, 3.15, 4.15) showing on RTT.

Apols if there is a dedicated thread on extra services relating to HM's funeral - if so please move post.

 

[Butts]

Following the death of her majesty when the time comes for Charles III's Coronation the Stone of Scone will make it's first journey South in over 700 years.

The last time it went down was after Edward Plantagenet (Hammer of the Scots and Welsh) ordered it's removal from Scone Palace in 1296.

Longshanks was arguably one of England's greatest Kings who wreaked havoc in Scotland and lot's of allies up here.

Wherever you go in Scotland it's either him or Cromwell that left swathes of destruction in their wake.

 

[Gloster]

Following the death of her majesty when the time comes for Charles III's Coronation the Stone of Scone will make it's first journey South in over 700 years.

The last time it went down was after Edward Plantagenet (Hammer of the Scots and Welsh) ordered it's removal from Scone Palace in 1296.

Longshanks was arguably one of England's greatest Kings who wreaked havoc in Scotland and lot's of allies up here.

Wherever you go in Scotland it's either him or Cromwell that left swathes of destruction in their wake.

Didn’t it get nicked in 1950 and end up in Arbroath. After which it was returned and only came north again in 1996.

 

[Butts]

Didn’t it get nicked in 1950 and end up in Arbroath. After which it was returned and only came north again in 1996.

Indeed I forgot about that - although it did not travel North whole.

it was fixed by a stone mason up here using a rod with a message inside that has never been read - intriguing.

 

[Busaholic]

Indeed I forgot about that - although it did not travel North whole.

it was fixed by a stone mason up here using a rod with a message inside that has never been read - intriguing.

Is it known who wrote, or at least dictated, the message?

 

[Butts]

Is it known who wrote, or at least dictated, the message?

The Stone Mason ?

 

[yorksrob]

It's good to reflect that the late Queen was a wonderful supporter of the railway, making use of both the Royal train and service trains.

 

[Butts]

It's good to reflect that the late Queen was a wonderful supporter of the railway, making use of both the Royal train and service trains.

Not for her final journey alas...

C17 Globemaster seemed a little large although I suppose you could everyone / everything in.

It was the most tracked flight ever on Flight Radar - 5 Million People.

 

[yorksrob]

Not for her final journey alas...

C17 Globemaster seemed a little large although I suppose you could everyone / everything in.

It was the most tracked flight ever on Flight Radar - 5 Million People.

It's a shame indeed. I think that The King has a good record of using the Royal Train for engagements, so hopefully this will continue.

 

[DelayRepay]

Not for her final journey alas...

C17 Globemaster seemed a little large although I suppose you could everyone / everything in.

It was the most tracked flight ever on Flight Radar - 5 Million People.

She passed over my village. Quite a few people went outside to look towards the sky. There was a rainbow over the village too. I felt surprisingly moved when we spotted the plane.

 

[yorksrob]

One thing that's struck me over the past week is what a wonderful job Princess Anne has done.

Low key and behind the scenes, she's looked after the Queen in her last days, overseen the movement of the Queen back from Balmoral, taken part in the various ceremonies.

She absolutely deserves respect and appreciation for this.

 

[Winthorpe]

One thing that's struck me over the past week is what a wonderful job Princess Anne has done.

Low key and behind the scenes, she's looked after the Queen in her last days, overseen the movement of the Queen back from Balmoral, taken part in the various ceremonies.

She absolutely deserves respect and appreciation for this.

Hear hear.

Princess Anne has been regarded as the hardest-working royal for quite some time. In terms of events attended, etc. There's a chap who writes to The Times every year with an analysis of the Court Circular (the official record of past royal engagements) and Princess Anne come out on top every time.

Confirms what many people think of her in any case.

 

[yorksrob]

Hear hear.

Princess Anne has been regarded as the hardest-working royal for quite some time. In terms of events attended, etc. There's a chap who writes to The Times every year with an analysis of the Court Circular (the official record of past royal engagements) and Princess Anne come out on top every time.

Confirms what many people think of her in any case.

I'm not a follower of the Court Circular, but I'm not surprised at all

 

[Cloud Strife]

One thing that's struck me over the past week is what a wonderful job Princess Anne has done.

Low key and behind the scenes, she's looked after the Queen in her last days, overseen the movement of the Queen back from Balmoral, taken part in the various ceremonies.

She absolutely deserves respect and appreciation for this.

My (Polish!) mother-in-law is utterly obsessed with the Royal Family, and she said the same thing today.

About Princess Anne's hard work: I've always suspected that Meghan Markle's real problems came from the fact that she was expected to work as hard as Anne does, which is that she simply doesn't stop.

 

[Strat-tastic]

I've been watching the live pictures of lying in state. Spellbinding.
Punctuated every 20 mins by the changeover. Compelling TV.

 

[DelW]

I've been watching the live pictures of lying in state. Spellbinding.
Punctuated every 20 mins by the changeover. Compelling TV.

Indeed, it's been fascinating to watch. As well as the general public on the floor of Westminster Hall, there are what I presume are groups of foreign dignitaries on the higher level walkway to one side.

The soundtrack is notable as well, a sort of echoey hush, interspersed with an occasional crying child, and then the slow and steady rhythm of boots on the floor as the guards change over.

(Freeview 232 for anyone who wants to watch without streaming it).

 

[341o2]

For anyone who has missed the latest news, the queue to file past the Queen will be closed - probably within an hour or two
Very few retail outlets will be open tomorrow, including filling stations