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The funeral. thread with no unkindness

(133 Posts)
j08 Wed 17-Apr-13 10:42:13

No other country does it like this one does. What a spectacle.

#greattobebritish

Nelliemoser Thu 18-Apr-13 14:09:10

Sel! No! just a degree of astonishment.

j08 Thu 18-Apr-13 11:40:14

Yes, I think he asked her if she was alright, and the look meant, "don't start fussing"! grin

janeainsworth Thu 18-Apr-13 07:55:16

There was a little moment just before the start of the actual service when the cameras were on the Queen and HRH, and Philip made a remark to the Queen.
The Queen turned to him and briefly replied, but continued to look at him for several seconds and it was easy to imagine that she was delivering one of those 'shut up and bl**dy ell behave yourself' looks that any of us who have been married for some time are well practised in smile

Tegan Wed 17-Apr-13 23:47:42

I did wonder what was going through their minds. I was also amazed at how well the Queen looked [although I thought she'd lost weight].

grannyactivist Wed 17-Apr-13 23:43:14

I hardly dare say this, but did anybody else think of it as a sort of dress rehearsal for QEII/DofE's funeral? I could just imagine notes being taken and observations made for future reference. shock

MaggieP Wed 17-Apr-13 23:32:55

A very moving ceremony,(I have only just watched the Highlights) the solemnity and splendour of the Funeral was a joy to watch, we do ceremonies well don't we?
A fitting end to an amazing lady of our time.

gracesmum Wed 17-Apr-13 22:37:25

flowers from me too, ga

glassortwo Wed 17-Apr-13 22:34:16

grannya flowers

nanaej Wed 17-Apr-13 22:31:13

grannya flowers

FlicketyB Wed 17-Apr-13 22:27:29

ga flowers

Sel Wed 17-Apr-13 21:34:46

ga an echo flowers

Ana Wed 17-Apr-13 21:31:44

ga flowers

grannyactivist Wed 17-Apr-13 21:29:52

Flickety, having made a similar journey behind a flag draped coffin I can tell you that it is a surreal experience to travel through familiar streets and ignore all traffic lights, junctions etc. I think we travelled at about 15 miles an hour. sad

FlicketyB Wed 17-Apr-13 20:24:46

Nonu, I know this goes on for all sorts of important people, but it was seeing the process that was so fascinating. How smoothly it ran, almost like a dream - and it showed the great professionalism of our police.

Usually at events like this we see the swan serenely sailing to its destination, this is the first time I have seen the legs underneath paddling like mad.

Sel Wed 17-Apr-13 20:15:07

*FlicketyB' I haven't seen this, I guess road closures went East to West I so wish I could command the same grin.

Nonu Wed 17-Apr-13 20:13:22

Is that not like that for all important people , look at Diana , could not realistically be stuck in a traffic jam , or lights could they ??

FlicketyB Wed 17-Apr-13 19:38:56

I was fascinated by the car journey through London to the crematorium. It was not the cortege itself that fascinated me, but the way it proceeded at a steady pace without any visible change of speed or awareness of junctions as if the road was completely empty up one side of the road then the other, across major junctions.

This was all due to a posse of yellow jacketed policemen continually riding ahead on their motor cycles, holding traffic up, at traffic lights or in places where it was heavy and once the cortege had passed getting back on their bikes, powering past the cortege to the next pinchpoint. It was all so smooth, so practiced. I just watched mesmerised.

Sel Wed 17-Apr-13 17:07:39

Nelliemoser I'm trying to figure out if you meant to type a '?' after that smile

Nelliemoser Wed 17-Apr-13 16:29:46

Good grief!

Sel Wed 17-Apr-13 16:21:13

It's always interesting to experience things first hand Nonu if that's at all possible then see the way the media report it. I walked from Charing Cross to St Paul's and didn't see any trouble. Last Saturday evening I was passing through Trafalgar Square so stopped by to witness the protests, pretty much a damp squib, well, it was raining smile I posted as much on here and then after another poster mentioned how the BBC had reported it, I checked and was astounded at the drama. It annoys me as they are supposed to be apolitical.

Nonu Wed 17-Apr-13 16:03:13

How lucky you were to be there , Sel .
smile

Sel Wed 17-Apr-13 16:00:58

It was just so British. Lots of humour in the crowd. I was standing near a chap who decided to preach to the crowd, standing on his steps and holding up view impeding placards. He was shouting away and asked 'who here has committed adultery?' 'Me mate' came from the other side of the road and everyone roared with laughter, even the Police. Isn't it wonderful, the freedom we enjoy in this country? It was moving to see so many ordinary people turn out, most of whom seemed to be there to counteract the threat of protest and disruption. Several were following the service on their phones and singing to the hymns. Everyone applauded the armed services, wonderful.

The Police did a marvellous job.

gracesmum Wed 17-Apr-13 15:21:31

Did we see any sign or hear any mention of her nephew and niece? I understand her sister predeceased her, but apart from Carole and Mark and his children, no other actual "rellies" mentioned?

Minty Wed 17-Apr-13 15:15:34

Congratulations to her grandchildren, how well her granddaughter spoke.

soop Wed 17-Apr-13 14:36:22

Spot on...Ella smile