RIP

Oh I think everyone who grew up in the English speaking world knows Paddington.

thats so cute.

Well, considering support for the monarchy in Scotland isn't huge (I think 40% don't support it... I would expect not far off the same base as the indy population) almost every house seems to have people outside as the coffin makes its way to Edinburgh.

I wonder how many of these are just there to be there vs what support there actually is with people that don't get involved in polls etc.

I also wonder how events like this impact polling numbers.

{{ The monarchy in Scotland is complex. On the west coast where I am its very complex as its not so much along political grounds, though that plays into it, its mainly along religous lines. The Unionist, protestant, Rangers supporting part of Scotland is very pro monarch indeed and pro british Army. The irish descended, often independence supporting, catholic Celtic supporting part is very anti-monarch and anti-british Army. And all these passions are mixed up with the normal passions and bile of football team supporting rivalry to complicate it more. And the whole mess seeps out into wider society.

To give an idea of the strength of the feeling, though its better now than it was, when I was a kid I was not only not allowed to have a catholic friend, catholics were not alowed in our house, and in fact nor was the wearing of anything green. And this was normal behaviour (I cant even describe the look on my dads face when he found out I'd gone to a Mass at the Chapel to see what it was all about for myself!).

In general though Id say there was majority support of a Monarch as Head of State, but as thats common around the world even still, its not really an issue that effects the independence argument overly much, save that there is always a temporary increase in general patriotism at times like this - Dianas funeral was probably the last time on a similar scale of feeling, but it had added shock factor, this was more expected. The SNP policy for an independent Scotland would be for the Monarch to continue as Head of State. One could afterall argue Scotland has a greater claim to the current monarchy than England in fact has, as Elizabeth claimed her right through her Scottish lineage on both sides of her family and she was never happier or more at home than when she was at Balmoral.
Charlie is Duke of Rothesay, or was William is now, and it on Bute just off the coast here and Royals are always well recevied when they are here.
In general I know people who vote for the Union and dont want a monarchy, and people who vote independence and do and vice versa. The SNP's Blackford gave a decent gracious speech in tribute to her in the Commons where he reffered to her as Queen of Scots.
But the main dividing line remains religous and there is a substantially larger protestant population than catholic, even if actual religion in practise drops there is still a general leaning towards the protestant thinking in society rather than catholic - Scots never have been good at bowing and scraping to Popes or Monarchs, its why the royals like it here so much I supsect (incidentally if youve never seen the film Mrs Brown with Judi Dench as Victoria and Billy Connolly as Mr Brown her Scottish gillie I highly reccommend it). }}

{{ Further illustration to the above- Ibrox Stadium, home to Rangers }}

Ian Blackford made a nice statement Westminster recently.

Also seemed like a lot of people paid their respects in Edinburgh over the time she was there.

{{ From todays news reports on last nights football-

'Rangers played the national anthem and held a minute's silence before their Champions League tie with Napoli to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth...There was no period of reflection before Celtic's Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk.'- BBC

In farness to Celtic their players did wear black armbands, but basically was the least they could possibly do and get away with it. }}

Catholic/protestant thing I guess.

{{ Yup it permeates everything on the West coast of Scotland in particular, and nothing more strongly than Monarchy which is the ultimate symbol of protestanism for bringing those sentiments to the fore.

Very lucky the procession from Balmoral was on the east coast, if her funeral had to go through Glasgow, that would have been very interesting indeed. }}

{ Further examplifying all this-

'Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after fans displayed anti-monarchy banners during the club's Champions League match...Uefa said it would not take action Rangers for defying its rules by playing God Save the King before their 3-0 defeat to Napoli at Ibrox later on Wednesday evening.'

Interesting though that rule breaking that was pro-monarch will have no action taken, rule breaking that was anti-monarchy will. But the two clubs responses to it gives their positions quite clearly, especially as celtic didnt even hold the tradtional minute silence before the game. }}

{{ RIP Hilary Mantel, probably best known for writing the Wolf Hall trilogy of books charting the life of Cromwell (also made into a fantasticly acted tv production that you really should seek out). The level of detail and attention she went to to create the feel of being there at the time was unmatched in the historical novel. }}

oh no I liked her. We went to the same school.

HAGRID!!!!!

Yep, he, Dumbledore and Snape were all perfectly realized, all gone.

Oh no...

Don't. Be. Fat.

RIP Conservative party.

{{ RIP Paul O'Grady. Comedian, gay icon, drag queen, charity worker.
His rant on the Tories on the Paul O' Grady show is legendary, and made all the sadder and worse byt he fact the austerity he speaks off would not be stopped, and we'd still have it 13 years later. Also ironic to see the Daily Mail tribute to this 'national treasure' on the same page as a rant about drag queen story time.



But it was his alter-ego Lilly Savage that made his name, and once in character it seems he didnt easily come back out, as shown in this increasingly off the rails recording sessions for the Lily Savage Show. A shame to have lost such a unique voice so early. - }}

He was great, I loved his wit and banter.

RIP Chandler Bing.

That was one I wasn't expecting!!

He could make almost anything sound funny.

No drugs in his body, yet he drowned in his hot tub.  Something doesn't add up.  Must be some physical oddity they didn't find.

RIP David Soul.

Starsky and Hutch was one of my favourite shows growing up.

{{ Same Chris, I used to watch with my older brother and my Dad, even had the car toy, fond memories. RIP David Soul.}}

I remember David Soul singing "Silver Lady", he had a quiet voice that I liked, I also think of him in "Salems Lot", that dam film still gives me the willys !

RIP. Ian Lavender. (Private Pike)

Dad's Army. Great show.