Following the announcement of Prince Philip’s death last week, many businesses, broadcasters and individuals paid tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.
Some Australian viewers were upset to find the ABC opted not to broadcast British crime drama Vera, instead choosing to cover Philip’s death.
Similarly, many were amused to hear a techno dance music mashup on BBC Radio in the UK was interrupted midway through with news of the passing.
But arguably the biggest disruption came to British rail passengers, who were forced to endure a (very difficult to read) greyscaled website.
With people across Britain paying tribute to the Prince, National Rail decided to show its respect through taking all colour out of its website.
A nice tribute, perhaps, but for users hoping to navigate the site, the change proved catastrophic.
On Twitter, it was pointed out that the tribute was making it difficult for users with visual impairments to make sense of train timetables.
National rail have coloured their entire website grey to "mourn Prince Phillip", rendering the whole website completely useless to people with visual impairments. The UK has completely lost the plot pic.twitter.com/5OKWAFXDWR
— socks (@carseatarmrest) April 11, 2021
This is just too much @nationalrailenq. @CrossCountryUK website is the same. A lot of people struggle with low contrast text – it would be good if the rail industry could pay its respects without needlessly discriminating against some of its customers. https://t.co/8Fk0mzn5r8
— Keith Barrow (@keithbarrow80) April 12, 2021
One Twitter post from the National Rail account event suggested that the railway’s moderator was struggling to read the website.
As a mark of respect for Prince Philip, National Rail have made their employees unable to read the National Rail timetable pic.twitter.com/yyl7OXbF5L
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) April 12, 2021
Others were simply poking fun at the absurdity of the entire thing.
[NATIONAL RAIL MARKETING MEETING]
MANAGER: We need to do something for Prince Philip's passing
COPYWRITER: I could write a respectful message for the front page?
MANAGER: Needs to be bigger
DESIGNER: …
…
…
goth website.CW: But —
ALL [whispering]: goth website… pic.twitter.com/kGAyh4I5TR
— Helen (@HRDutson) April 12, 2021
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: To be quite honest with you, I also struggle with the goth website
MANAGER: Do not speak ill of the goth website. Delete!!!!! pic.twitter.com/2SC52kZzgw
— Helen (@HRDutson) April 12, 2021
