Passing of Queen Elizabeth II - Rest in Peace, Your Majesty.

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The date of the Royal funeral is yet to be announced, but it HAS been stated that the day of the funeral will be an additional public holiday.

Plans are for ten days after the passing, or the following day if that turns out to be a Sunday.  So that's not 18th but rather 19th September - but I would only describe that as tentative as I write.

[JayMac]

It's been confirmed that the funeral will take place on Monday 19th.

Also confirmed that her body will be flown to London, accompanied by The Princess Royal.

[TaplowGreen]

The date of the Royal funeral is yet to be announced, but it HAS been stated that the day of the funeral will be an additional public holiday.

19 September.

[bobm]

From the Rail Delivery Group

• Rail industry warns that services and stations are likely to be extremely busy over next nine days
• Some changes to ticketing arrangements related to commemorations of the death of Her Majesty the Queen

The rail industry is working hard to ensure that the public can travel safely to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen during the official mourning period and particularly on the day of the funeral, but warns that services and stations are likely to be extremely busy.

Jason Webb, the Rail Delivery Group’s Customer Information Director, said: “Understandably, many people wish to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen during this period of national mourning. On the day of the funeral, Monday 19 September, people should plan carefully the timing of their journey home as trains and stations are likely to be extremely busy.”

It will not be possible to view both the funeral in London and travel to Windsor, where Her Majesty the Queen will be laid to rest. People should plan to view one or the other and allow plenty of time to travel to either location.

Mourning period ticketing policy

Anytime, off peak and super off peak ticket holders will be able to get fee-free refunds on tickets which have been purchased before the announcement of Her Majesty the Queen’s death on 8 September. The up to £10 admin fee will be waived. 

Note that the policy of third party retailers and open access operators, including Grand Central, Heathrow Express and First Hull Trains, may differ. See their websites for further information.     

Advance tickets will be refundable in line with the existing “Book with Confidence” scheme, meaning they can be changed or refunded for a voucher up to 6pm the evening before.

This avoids passengers whose plans change or who decide not to travel because of the commemorations of the Queen’s death losing money as a result of changing their journey plans. It will also help to free up capacity on trains which we expect to be very busy during the mourning period due to large numbers wishing to travel to formal events, especially in London.

[bobm]

As in many towns and cities today, the proclamation of the Accession of the King was announced on the steps of Swindon Borough Council's offices at lunchtime.  As part of the event the ceremonial mace is held inverted as a mark of respect.



...before the Union Flag was returned to half mast

[grahame]

As in many towns and cities today, the proclamation of the Accession of the King was announced on the steps of Swindon Borough Council's offices at lunchtime.  As part of the event the ceremonial mace is held inverted as a mark of respect.

Similar proclamation in Melksham - except we're a tier down so were an hour later and we don't have a ceremonial mace.

[Witham Bobby]

Taken by my friend Jack Boskett, I believe.  He tells the story about this day that he got quite a stare of disapproval from HM.  He asked one of the flunkies why this would be; he'd photographed Queen Elizabeth II several times, often at railway events.  He got the reply that it was because of his tan shoes and blue suit combo.

[bobm]

Came from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) but yes I believe he took it.

[broadgage]

Taken by my friend Jack Boskett, I believe.  He tells the story about this day that he got quite a stare of disapproval from HM.  He asked one of the flunkies why this would be; he'd photographed Queen Elizabeth II several times, often at railway events.  He got the reply that it was because of his tan shoes and blue suit combo.

"Never brown in town" old chap. Nor blue suits, unless dark navy blue.
Brown shoes are for visiting ones country home, for holiday wear, or perhaps on the golf course. Brown shoes MIGHT be just acceptable in town on a Saturday if only working a half day.
My late grandfather had only one pair of brown shoes, only worn as above they lasted his working life.

[grahame]

It's been confirmed that the funeral will take place on Monday 19th.

Also confirmed that her body will be flown to London, accompanied by The Princess Royal.

From the Yorkshire Post

Royal Train: Rail industry insiders have explained why East Coast Main Line will not be used to transport Queen's coffin - and when the plans changed

[IndustryInsider]

Understandable.  But a shame.

[broadgage]

It's been confirmed that the funeral will take place on Monday 19th.

Also confirmed that her body will be flown to London, accompanied by The Princess Royal.

From the Yorkshire Post

Royal Train: Rail industry insiders have explained why East Coast Main Line will not be used to transport Queen's coffin - and when the plans changed

Not able to read the above newspaper report without a subscription, would anyone be able to summarise the reasons for not using the royal train.

[bradshaw]

It might be worth searching royal train on Twitter. If you have an Apple device searching royal train on Apple News will bring up a number of items - not available of Android

There is this from the Evening Standard
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/queen-royal-train-balmoral-edinburgh-london-raf-b1025298.html

Or Spectator
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-queen-s-final-journey-should-have-been-by-train

[stuving]

Not able to read the above newspaper report without a subscription, would anyone be able to summarise the reasons for not using the royal train.

Don't be misled by the headline. Really, the "insiders" were just Nigel Harris (Rail magazine editor) and Christian Wolmar (in quotes lifted from The Spectator), retailing industry rumours. No doubt those two are relatively well connected and thus informed, but I was not convinced they knew "it".

I'd got as far as realising that policing a railway line can't be done like a trunk road, and what we've just seen along the A40 bears that our. A crowd on a road can be seen from police vehicles, in advance and escorting, and they (especially the motorbikes) can get to anywhere they are needed. But you just can't do that along a railway.

[TaplowGreen]

Not able to read the above newspaper report without a subscription, would anyone be able to summarise the reasons for not using the royal train.

Don't be misled by the headline. Really, the "insiders" were just Nigel Harris (Rail magazine editor) and Christian Wolmar (in quotes lifted from The Spectator), retailing industry rumours. No doubt those two are relatively well connected and thus informed, but I was not convinced they knew "it".

I'd got as far as realising that policing a railway line can't be done like a trunk road, and what we've just seen along the A40 bears that our. A crowd on a road can be seen from police vehicles, in advance and escorting, and they (especially the motorbikes) can get to anywhere they are needed. But you just can't do that along a railway.

Anyone reading Nigel Harris's tweets on the subject over the past week will have seen the froth mouthed near hysteria he's worked himself into on the subject......I believe he was even going to launch a petition!