WOYWW 694: Paying Our Respects

 Well, it has been a week of mourning, but also celebrating the life of a steadfast monarch cumulating in the magnificent State Funeral on Monday where the armed forces did HM proud, as did the crowds of well wishers who lined the route.  We watched at home.

My desk this morning shows the pages that I made in my journal to reflect our paying of respects and the day of the State Funeral.  The wrist band is the one I wore in 'The Queue' for the lying in state at the weekend.  Neet asked me to share the experience so here goes...

We travelled down to London by train on Friday evening and then took the tube via London Bridge to Bermondsey as the end of the queue was in Southwark Park (actually the queue to the queue to the queue to The Queue).
 

Zone 3 in the park

Looking across at zone 1 from zone 2 in the park

We eventually made it to the point of getting wrist bands after 3 miles of walking backwards and forwards and nearly 3 hours. 

We made it as far as the next lot of backwards and forwards walking an hour and a half later at nearly 4am.  Things slowed down then as I think rehearsals were taking place. 

The Globe Theatre kindly opened its facilities to those in the queue so I managed to avoid having to use the Porta Potties along the route (The Tate Modern did the same). 

There were at least loads of landmarks to see along the route.

James had had enough by the time we hit the 11 hour mark and were told it would be another 6 hours.  He took himself off to explore Trafalgar Square and walk along the other side of the Thames crossing by Westminster Bridge.

We continued along past the Houses of Parliament where the queue was pushed up together.  Paul was busy getting footage of the royal hearse when there was a great surprise.  The King came to speak to people in our part of the queue.  I was at the back but managed to stand on something and catch a glimpse (about 5' away and with five rows of people in front).  I didn't see the Prince of Wales when he arrived, as by that time I was crushed against the river side of the path.  I must admit to having a bit of a panic attack at that point but the stewards were really good and myself and another lady in the same boat were moved to the other side of the barrier, checked out and then  walked around to rejoin the queue on Lambeth Bridge where it thinned out a bit.  By the time we got to the grounds of the Palace of Westminster Paul was starting to struggle a bit and we had 40 odd backwards and forwards sections to negotiate still.  Luckily they saw he was struggling and he was given an accessibility queue wristband and we were taken round to the separate queue for security and able to use the steps free access.  It took another hour from that point but by 3.30pm we were paying our respects in Westminster Hall. Total silence and reverance from all the people there.  We were absolutely done by then (a total of 16 hours and 10 minutes in the queue) and took an Uber back to Euston.  Luckily we managed to catch a train almost immediately.  I made sure Paul got a seat although I had to stand until Milton Keynes and James was on his feet until Rugby.  Luckily my brother came and collected us at the station.  It was exactly 40 hours since I got up on Friday morning when I made it to bed on Saturday evening and we still have sore legs but I am so glad we went.

Sorry this has been a long post.  Please go and visit Stamping Ground where Julia keeps charge of the WOYWW desks.  Stay safe and Happy WOWYW.