Prince George at The Queen's funeral?

Personally I don’t think he should attend the state funeral.
Maybe the private committal if he wants to.

I don’t think he should go.

Having read various articles about this, I think it is up to the parents. He could go to the smaller ceremony at Windsor. Also, in what way would it ‘reassure the nation’, as one publication put it this morning?

My children always attended funerals. I know they aren't Royal family but we have always been honest about death with them and I think a funeral is part of learning the process of death and mourning. I certainly don't think 9 is too young but as you say, it's up to his parents and also the amount of people there.

I don't think anyone, including the media has to have an opinion.

“Reassure the nation” is just ridiculous. Reassure them of what ?
What a palaver really.

I don’t think he should go. My elder son was 9 when my husband died, and I never even thought of taking him to the funeral. I was also advised not to by various people I respected. I thought seeing a box that contained his father would be traumatic.

Years before that, I remember being very shocked when the Kennedy children went to President Kennedy’s funeral.

I’d be very surprised if George isn’t there.
I never even considered that he wouldn’t be.
Not that he should or he shouldn’t go, I have no opinion on that.

The Express reckons that Charlotte will be going too.
Other reports say that it’s courtiers who decide

His parents know him best, his character etc. Their choice on how much involvement he has.

I wouldn’t expect a 9 year old to attend a funeral, and certainly not one of this nature, and wouldn’t have taken my child, but it’s up to the parents. George is by no means a normal 9 year old no matter how hard his parents try to give him a normal upbringing as best they can.

But a State funeral is so full on and longer than an average funeral with the world's cameras on them. It's a long time for a child. I agree children should learn to understand about death but in front of the anticipated audience of 32 million viewers, it's far too much pressure on both parents and child imo.

Yes, Grandma70s who can forget President Kennedy's little 4 year old son saluting his father's coffin? I am tearful just remembering it.

I think he should make his own mind up after being told what it will entail.
The first I went to was my grandfather's at 12. I was horrified, it had not been explained and I was with cousins who were laughing and talking normally until we got into church and at the cemetery, we all looked at each other and cried.
My DDs were in their early teens when my father died it was explained and they chose to attend.

I think there will be three points to consider here. The first being the emotional strain on a child of that age obviously upset at the death of his grandmother to face such public scrutiny. Secondly, particularly after (in my opinion) the extremely intrusive photography of the two royal vigils at Westminster Hall, when his every expression will be captured, and later commented on, perish the thought that he might screw his face up or yawn. Thirdly the logistics of processions, seating etc.

I have been at many funerals when children of that age have been present with no problems, but in this case I would say No.

I'm sure his family know him best.
JaneJudge , you talk such sense. I dont think that children should be hidden from what is part of life. It seems as if the up coming generations are becoming more open. than we were.
Nothing wrong in that.

I don't think he should go.
He always looks miserable and tired when he's attended other events.
Of course the poor little mite could just have a naturally 'sad' expression. Some people do.

Should be his parents’ choice, but they have only recently expressed concerns about a house move, new school and death of a Grandparent’s affecting their young children. It seems surprising then that Prince George’s attendance at the funeral should be a consideration at 9 years old when his almost 40 year old Uncle (older but closer to the deceased) is still talking about how that childhood funeral experience affected him!

I think George and Charlotte will probably go as they went to the thanksgiving service for The Duke of Edinburgh. I am sure that they have seen footage of their Father standing vigil for their Great Grandma, so seeing the coffin will be not be a shock.

Prince Louis didn’t attend, so I doubt if he will go tomorrow.

Parental choice. Not the choice I'd make for a child so young.

I would imagine at least one of the children will be paraded, after all that seems to be one of their functions doesn't it? Show the public how cute the next generation of royals are. Perhaps it's a way of drawing attention away from the dysfunctional adults.

snowberryZ

I don't think he should go.
He always looks miserable and tired when he's attended other events.
Of course the poor little mite could just have a naturally 'sad' expression. Some people do.

this made me laugh

Mostly even young children attend funerals here. They are part of the family after all. They don’t need to be paraded, just present.

What a very unpleasant post Gloriany.

I'm with JaneJudge. Why shouldn't he be allowed to go and say goodbye? 9 is old enough for funerals. I'm not sure how long the state service will last though, so if very long, I'd understand if he didn't attend. He's old enough to be talked to about it and have some say in whether he goes or not.

He could, if the parents felt it appropriate, go to the private committal service to say goodbye. Though I wouldn’t do any of this to my child.