Prince Philips Funeral.

rubysong

I thought the funeral was beautifully done, being both a family and a national event, very dignified and moving.
Thank you Callistemon for 'Crossing the Bar'. DH (ex RN) has a Naval Engineers magazine which lists those who have 'crossed the bar'. The poem is very emotional and would make a good funeral reading.

I thought it was fitting, rubysong

It's always sad to hear or read just how many have crossed the bar and I did wonder if it might be read at the funeral.

We stayed up until the early hours watching it even though we are not royalist. It was a moving and tasteful tribute. Have to say there is nowhere in the world that could do it better. The end of an era and he was sent off in wonderful style. I hope the Queen receives wonderful support from her family as I am sure she will.

Good to read kind, thoughtful posts here. I feel that Prince Philip passing has dimmed a light.
As a small child I saw on film the wedding of ‘our Princess’ and a storybook Prince. Although now she is alone I hope the love and respect of millions, as well as her close family, can begin to comfort her in the days to come.

It was very, very sad. I felt sorry for the Queen as she sat all alone. She could indeed have formed a bubble with one of her children now she is all alone. It’s sad that it didn’t happen.
It was a fitting tribute to the man, Prince Philip. RIP.

I thought the funeral was beautifully done, being both a family and a national event, very dignified and moving.
Thank you Callistemon for 'Crossing the Bar'. DH (ex RN) has a Naval Engineers magazine which lists those who have 'crossed the bar'. The poem is very emotional and would make a good funeral reading.

MaizieD

It was perfect. Can't say more, can I?

We caught bits of the earlier parts of the broadcast and I felt so sorry for all the military having to stand motionless in the Great Park for so long. My unfeeling DP said that they were trained to do it..

My son was in the Royal Marines, and when he had to do Cenotaph duty, his unit had to practise standing still for 3 hours. I still have the tape of that Remembrance Day.

Boogaloo

I watched it live here in the North western U.S. Although I emigrated 48 years ago the service for the Duke made me very proud to be (still) be British.

I fancied the Queen turned and looked behind her when entering the church out of habit, looking/waiting for Phillip. So very, very sad to see her alone and grieving.

This very morning the wild serviceberry shrubs started to bloom in our valley;

"The berry became known by this name, ‘serviceberry’, because the plant blossoms early in the spring. This would let settlers in northern locations know that the ground was supposedly thawed enough for graves to be dug to bury those in the community who had died during the long winter.

That’s fascinating Boogaloo!

It’s all been said and I can only echo the earlier comments.

Crossing the Bar
Alfred Lord Tennyson - 1809-1892

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have cross’d the bar.

I watched it live here in the North western U.S. Although I emigrated 48 years ago the service for the Duke made me very proud to be (still) be British.

I fancied the Queen turned and looked behind her when entering the church out of habit, looking/waiting for Phillip. So very, very sad to see her alone and grieving.

This very morning the wild serviceberry shrubs started to bloom in our valley;

"The berry became known by this name, ‘serviceberry’, because the plant blossoms early in the spring. This would let settlers in northern locations know that the ground was supposedly thawed enough for graves to be dug to bury those in the community who had died during the long winter.

It had everything didn't it?
Military precision, which we do like no other country.
Stirring music.
Perfect weather.
And at the heart of it all, just one family grieving and laying to rest their much-loved and well-respected patriarch.
So moving.
RIP Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, and thank you for a wonderful day.

An amazing tribute to Prince Philip. Good to see William and Kate and Harry walking together afterwards. Let's hope they resolve their differences. The Queen looked very alone ! I agree with an earlier post that it did seem like a family funeral - which if course it was! Less ceremony and no crowds and all the better for it.

Can a bubble be made in a week ?

Could the Queen have made a bubble with Charles and Camilla. They could have sat with her then. Just asking ?

Georgesgran the rules changed on April 12th.

An appropriately sombre and moving event made more so due to the circumstances. It bought home to me the many, many others who’ve had to say goodbye in the last year or more with similar ceremonies scaled back with no contact.

I agree that it was a more moving and intimate occasion because of the restrictions; while I am sure there are many people they would have liked to be there, it was probably a blessing that dignitaries and politicians couldn’t be invited. It is fortunate at least that the easements last Monday meant the numbers increased from 15 to 30.
I understand it was available to be televised internationally. While the objective of today was to say farewell to a much loved husband, father and grandfather etc., there is no doubt the service did the Country proud, thanks to the Duke himself. RIP

I think it was an even more memorable occasion because of the constraints than a big funeral would have been.

Really liked the reading from Ecclesiastes which I hadn't heard before.

Delighted to see everyone walking back afterwards and making the official cars redundant!

I wept for her majesty. To be denied a comforting arm around her, the holding of another hand, watching her husband laid to rest, never was there a time she needed this more.

Beautiful music and readings, extremely poignant I admit to shedding a tear.

I felt really upset seeing the poor Queen having to sit there completely alone. It really brought it home to me how many widows must have suffered being in the same situation over the last year. Meanwhile people are out in crowds at the shops and the pub enjoying themselves. It seems very wrong to me that we can’t exercise compassion to those who are grieving.

A very moving funeral.

Very moving. I cried at the carriage with the cap and gloves laid by the side. So sad. God bless our queen.

I thought, as usual, they got it ‘just right’.

And as Sophie Wessex said the other day “The Queen is amazing”.

Long may she reign.

Yes, I was terrified one of them would keel over.

It was perfect. Can't say more, can I?

We caught bits of the earlier parts of the broadcast and I felt so sorry for all the military having to stand motionless in the Great Park for so long. My unfeeling DP said that they were trained to do it..