Prince George at The Queen's funeral?

It doesn't come across as a judgement particularlyCasdon Glorianny's post
It is a point of view, an opinion. Surely that's allowed?

Attending a grandparent’s funeral is like being sent up a chimney or going down the mines then Glorianny.

That’s truly one of your best.

I wouldn’t put my children through that. It’s enough for children to understand that they won’t be seeing their great grandmother again as people die when they get old. To have to walk behind the coffin as they go into the abbey is an unnecessary performance.

Glorianny

But they are Royal children Grammaretto and apparently not entitled to any protection. They have to be exhibited and to perform their royal duties. Children used to be sent up chimneys. children used to perform on stages, children used to go down mines. All of these are now regulated by law because it wasn't good for them. How strange that a public exhibition can be made of children because of their birth. Many of the children on stage and in entertainment apparently liked doing it, but we now recognise they were exploited. Children choosing isn't necessarily a good way to go. But I hope the Royalists are happy condoning such treatment.

I’m not a royalist Glorianny, but as I said yesterday I think your opinion is at one extreme, and you shouldn’t judge others who don’t agree with you. We are not in a position to know how these children feel, what has been discussed with them, whether this is something they actively want to do. They have been used to being a significant Royal events their whole lives, and may be completely unfazed by public attention for all you know. You aren’t an expert at analysing the psyche of these children any more than the next man in the street.

I’m not sure if the Royal adults have many choices in life.
Hence why Harry’s decision was, it had to be, so brutal.
I imagine that there are lots of advisors, but all advising the same thing.
Recent events have really bought it home to me just what a machine it is.
The personnel change, but the whole thing charges on relentlessly.

But they are Royal children Grammaretto and apparently not entitled to any protection. They have to be exhibited and to perform their royal duties. Children used to be sent up chimneys. children used to perform on stages, children used to go down mines. All of these are now regulated by law because it wasn't good for them. How strange that a public exhibition can be made of children because of their birth. Many of the children on stage and in entertainment apparently liked doing it, but we now recognise they were exploited. Children choosing isn't necessarily a good way to go. But I hope the Royalists are happy condoning such treatment.

I'm afraid I don't think the royal children get many choices in life.
Harry voted with his feet and left the country.
If G and C go today let's hope it's not the full 20 hours
They are just children. Please let them have a childhood.

JaneJudge

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.

I am so with you on this.
But he is also able to have an opinion on which service he attends.

Mandrake

I'm sure that William and Kate, in discussion with George and Charlotte, have made the decision that is best for the children. This is a parenting decision that I'm sure has been made with love and care for the children. Not our concern.

I quite agree, well said. .

They are protective parents and Prince William knows exactly how following a coffin feels having walked behind his mother’s coffin . I doubt very much the children have been made to do this, they would have been given the choice I’m sure. However its not going to stop people expressing how awful it is.

I think the walk behind the coffin will be so very public, I just feel this is too much for George and Charlotte. Maybe just the service itself.

What I’m most disappointed about is that it seems another generation of royal children is being used to somehow appease the public.
What a strange comment, Nightowl. Where did you get that idea from?
I’m trying to picture two scenarios.
William and Catherine
“Yes of course you can attend the funeral to appease the public.”
Or
“No you can’t go to the funeral because it might offend some of the public.”
Both equally unlikely.
I wonder how you’d feel if people criticised your decisions about who should attend the funeral of a close family member.

The children are only doing the bit when they walk down the aisle. They are children who are used to going to church and they are used to crowds, totally different to parachuting a child in who isn't used to these things. They will also probably be fascinated by the pageantry and ritual,
I know my son, aged 5 at the time, was very curious about what was happening when he attended my mother's funeral. He was also used to going to church and sitting still and quiet. He did nearly fall in the grave as it was pouring with rain, and he was determined to get a look in the hole. I had to grab his collar and steer him away; my Mum would have found it hilarious. My older ones also went (then aged 7 and 9) and would have been very disappointed to have been denied the opportunity to say an official goodbye to a much-loved granny.

William has said he was asked if he wanted to walk behind the
coffin, Harry did because his brother did,

Any trauma was surely caused by the public screaming and
wailing

Daisymae

I imagine that Charlotte said if he's going then I'm going.

That's exactly what I thought!

I imagine that Charlotte said if he's going then I'm going.

Well for what it’s worth I agree with Glorianny and I think she’s had some pretty rude comments from people who seem to be either misunderstanding or misconstruing her posts. I respect William and Catherine and I’m sure they will have made what they think is the right decision for their children. I am surprised because I thought William would want to protect his children from the experience he had when his mother died, but I believe he is a very loving father so must have given great consideration to his children’s welfare.

What I’m most disappointed about is that it seems another generation of royal children is being used to somehow appease the public. Are we really that shallow that we need children to comfort us in some way? That’s exactly how William and Harry were used after their mother’s death and it was disgraceful. I think perhaps they should have been at the private service rather than the public one. But let’s see, maybe they will only be there for a short time.

My 3 grandsons, aged 15 and twins aged 9, escorted their grandfather's coffin at his funeral last April. They were asked if they would like to join the adult men of the family to act as bearers.
Everything was explained to them and we had a plan B in place if the twins changed their minds.
They fulfilled their roles impeccably. There were tears but they knew it was OK to cry and they were not to worry.
My 10 month old granddaughter also attended. She spent most of the time waving at the priest.

I know Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be taking part in a very public funeral but I agree with Grammaretto.
The Prince and Princess are used to very grand public occasions.

I think I read somewhere that the funeral will be televised on the understanding that there will be no close ups of the Royal family's faces. Maybe somebody on here can confirm that?

Grammaretto

When did children start attending funerals?
When DH died out eldest DGC came and read poems.
When my own DF died, I was 5 and I certainly did not go to any funeral but had a hard time accepting he had died.
DGM could remember her own mother's cortège going past the window and whoever was with the 9 yr old saying "wave your mother goodbye dear"
It will always be poignant the last sighting of a loved one but I can't see how the Queen's very public funeral will be different from any other public occasion so why not go along if they want to.

Chdren have always attended funerals in our family....from around age 7......just like weddings and christenings are family events for us....so are funerals .....obviously this funeral will be on a bigger scale...but already these children have attended 'big occasions'.....I'm sure their parents know their children best

When did children start attending funerals?
When DH died out eldest DGC came and read poems.
When my own DF died, I was 5 and I certainly did not go to any funeral but had a hard time accepting he had died.
DGM could remember her own mother's cortège going past the window and whoever was with the 9 yr old saying "wave your mother goodbye dear"
It will always be poignant the last sighting of a loved one but I can't see how the Queen's very public funeral will be different from any other public occasion so why not go along if they want to.

It would be very good if both George and Charlotte attended the state funeral. They need this as much as the close family. They will cope and remember this all their lives and should not be deprived

The royal family and the country will say a “last farewell” to Queen Elizabeth II during a state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday in which nine-year-old Prince George and his seven-year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, will walk behind their great-grandmother’s coffin. George and Charlotte, now second and third in line to the throne, will follow their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the coffin is carried through the abbey in front of a 2,000-strong congregation including world leaders

I'm sure that William and Kate, in discussion with George and Charlotte, have made the decision that is best for the children. This is a parenting decision that I'm sure has been made with love and care for the children. Not our concern.

I didn't let my own children attend their grandmothers funeral. At 6 and 9 they went to school as usual. However my own children let my grandchildren attend their grandfathers funeral and I think it was better than what I did. Although some were young they were very accepting and they saw closure. I forgot think a State Funeral is very long time for a 9 year old though, it does depend on the individual child and his parents are so good with them they will do what's right.

Glorianny

Let's get this clear I have no objection to children attending funerals. My eldest went to his GF's aged 10. What I object to is subjecting a child to the stresses of a public state funeral where they will not be able to behave as children do, but will have to maintain a certain composure and bearing. That this will be filmed and photographed so that in future years the child will see it again and again, and it will be scrutinised and criticised by the public and media people. And that this is all done to maintain the image of a family whose popularity is steadily waning. How anyone could subject a child to that I don't know, and no child of 9 can possibly understand all of the ramifications, so asking them is ridiculous. The child's future prospects do not mean he isn't entitled to protection and proper care and consideration. I may be a republican, but I am also concerned with the proper treatment of children whatever their family circumstances.
I find the idea that it's OK to involve children in these things because their family is royal absolutely unacceptable. And I could be very rude about those posters who think it is OK but actually I have better manners.

Your opinion carries no more weight than anybody else’s Glorianny, so you would in any case be wasting your breath being unnecessarily rude about other posters.