And still, they come. Hundreds of thousands of people are braving the long wait and chilly weather to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
In many ways, the ritual is unchanged from those that have come before. The monarch’s coffin rests on a raised platform. Royal guards watch over it. People stop and heads bow. There are of course some modern twists. The Government has published a live tracker of the queue, while the event itself in Westminster Hall is being live streamed for those unable to attend.
It is not only the length of the line that is remarkable, but the breadth of experience of those in it. People from all walks of life, backgrounds, religious faiths and ages, standing together, shuffling along the Thames, to say farewell to their late monarch.
It speaks to the depth of feeling about the Queen, right across the nation. She was there for us throughout much of the last century — for war and peace, loss and celebration. And this is our opportunity to give grateful thanks.
Be sensible on obesity
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well,” wrote Virginia Woolf. She was right, of course. The problem is, many of us are dining a little too well.
Obesity affects about one in four adults in the UK and one in five children aged 10 to 11. It can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some types of cancer. And it can be particularly challenging for young people, with obesity associated with lower psychological health and many children experiencing bullying due to their weight.
Nor is obesity an equal opportunities offender. Rates for the most deprived 10 per cent of the population are the highest, more than twice those of the least deprived decile.
So there is concern at reports suggesting the Prime Minister is considering dropping plans to tackle junk food. This review of the anti-obesity strategy could lead to a lifting of the ban on sugary products being displayed at checkouts, as well as “buy-one-get-one-free” deals. Restrictions on marketing certain products on TV could also be scrapped.
Given the obesity crisis, we must focus on taking measures that help people, parents and children make healthier choices. It is not nanny-stateism. It is sensible public health policy.
Fashion honours icon
London Fashion Week begins this evening, but it will be a different one from those that have come before. Perhaps the greatest change is that there will be no parties.
The event instead will represent an opportunity for the industry to celebrate the monarch’s “legacy and commitment to creativity and design”.
Indeed, fashion week is about more than being seen at the right soiree. It is the open shop for an industry vital to London, and worth £26 billion and 800,000 jobs across the UK, according to the British Fashion Council.
And it must be said, Queen Elizabeth was not only our head of state but a fashion icon. Her clothes were always carefully chosen, with striking block-coloured outfits and matching hats that made her recognisable in any crowd.
