The Speaker said the Queen's funeral will be the most important event the world will ever see

And the piper was the one who played for her on her last day.

Smileless2012. Same here, very poignant as the piper’s music slowly faded away and so fitting.

I must say a very long march again for King Charles and Anne.

Franbern

The death/funeral of a 96 year old has a absolutely no effect on me or a anymember of my extended family.
As for respect - well, I never knew or met this woman so have no idea if I have any specific respect for her. I can definitely state that I have no respect whatsoever. for an archaic title she used

No, I agree. But I don't see world events in terms of how they impact on me or my extended family, other than on a reactive and immediate level. I am happy to be watching a box set and doing some knitting, but can also see that this is an important event on the world stage, which is not somewhere that I occupy a space.

That is not to say that 'ordinary' people are less important than others in an existential sense - just that more people know about leaders, movers and shakers, so their coming and going has a greater impact on the world at large. Funerals of those in my family and friendship groups have a far greater impact on me than this one, but they won't matter to you, and I don't expect them to, as you don't know the people involved, and other than in the 'butterfly flapping its wings' sense, they won't have made a difference to your life.

The religious aspect is also lost on me, as I am an atheist; but it is a comfort for many to hear the words of the service and to listen or sing along with the hymns, so why not? The Queen was head of the Church, so it makes sense for her to have a full Christian send-off. Of course it is unbalanced that one person gets all of this pageantry when many others die and have their remains disposed of alone, but either we decide as a society that there will be no more cakes and ale or we have to accept that these discrepancies exist.

Smileless2012

I agree GrannyGravy and for me the most poignant moment was the solitary piper at the end. As he walked away while continuing to play and the music faded, it was as if the Queen was leaving the abbey.

Oh yes, so very poignant.

I agree GrannyGravy and for me the most poignant moment was the solitary piper at the end. As he walked away while continuing to play and the music faded, it was as if the Queen was leaving the abbey.

The death/funeral of a 96 year old has a absolutely no effect on me or a anymember of my extended family.
As for respect - well, I never knew or met this woman so have no idea if I have any specific respect for her. I can definitely state that I have no respect whatsoever. for an archaic title she used

I think he meant that it is important in terms of the number of leaders and dignitaries in attendance. The biggest gathering of important people, if you like. That's probably true. I can't think of another world leader who will attract so many mourners at their funeral, partly because of the Commonwealth, but also because of the length of time the Queen was on the throne and the links that has made with other heads of state and other leaders. Realistically, Charles is not going to be King for anything like 70 years, and AFAIK there is not other world leader who has been around for anything like as long as the Queen, and who has the links and respect that she had. The Dalia Lama springs to mind, but he doesn't have a State, and anyway the Chinese won't allow a fancy funeral when his time comes, even if his religion calls for it.

'Important' is a value judgement, and I doubt that Hoyle meant for this comment to be over-analysed, any more than most of us do when we say things in conversation and settle for words that are 'near enough' to what we mean to say. The funeral is not 'important' to me personally (I am binge-watching 'The Killing' and catching up on knitting today), but even the most churlish Republican must see that whether it has a massive political impact on the world or not, it is an important occasion that is unlikely to be surpassed any time soon.

Will there be opportunities for networking after the ceremony? We always had those at work when people were gathered together from near and far, and I'm guessing that there will be some sort of reception? If that happens the opportunities for attendees to meet and form even surface alliances etc will be incredibly important, by anyone's standards.

A fitting service for a long lived Queen.

The music and pageantry world class.

Floradora9

I think it will be the biggest show of national grief this country will ever see unless there is a death like Princess Diana's of a young person. Anyone else remember Churchill's funeral when all the cranes on the Thames lowered their arms ?

That was one of the most misleading exhibitions of the 20th century. The dockers involved openly admitted that they only did it because they were offered double time pay for the event. Dockers as a whole hated Churchill.

I'm a republican but I am still interested in watching.

If that's true then it will be the most important event the world will ever see that I will deliberately choose to miss.

What a lovely hymn to start with.

Antonia

Diana's funeral?

Seriously???

It's a big event for our country at the moment, not the world. I'm sure every generation who has witnessed some momentous event thinks that it is the most significant who is to say what is to come? landing on Mars? Hopefully no more Hiroshima.

Pittcity

I wonder what Neil Armstrong would've thought?

Just what I was thinking.

Joseanne

I think it was a daft thing to say.
Did he perhaps mean the biggest, most substantial event in terms of organisation and logistics? It will certainly surpass something like the Olympic Games.

In terms of cost too?

Born into a life she had to adapt to, Queen Elizabeth did a fantastic job, classy lady.

It's somewhat arrogant and rather silly to claim to predict the future events of the whole world.

I don’t remember the actual funeral or the cranes, Floradora, but I do remember being taken to his lying in state.

I think it will be the biggest show of national grief this country will ever see unless there is a death like Princess Diana's of a young person. Anyone else remember Churchill's funeral when all the cranes on the Thames lowered their arms ?

MaizieD

Kate54

Some world leaders will be there but not all (e.g. Putin). Just saying…

Are you disappointed?

Absolutely not! Just correcting another comment. The absences send very strong and important message.

Yes, along those lines Casdon.

I think it was a daft thing to say.
Did he perhaps mean the biggest, most substantial event in terms of organisation and logistics? It will certainly surpass something like the Olympic Games.

The Queen was apparently the most famous person in the world, so in that respect her death will be known about and maybe important to more people worldwide than the other events mentioned, which however horrific, aren’t known about by so many people. Maybe that’s what he meant?

volver

^you are way out of your depth here Fleurpepper. .^

What an odd thing to say.

It's obviously not the most important event the world will ever see.

A rude thing to say, I agree volver. Being rude is an unnecessary choice.