Watching the funeral procession

Greyduster

S*d the expenditure. They should do it, for all of them even the ones who stood and lined the route. They also serve who only stand and wait.

I agree, and what about the ones who carried on their duties while everyone was involved.
Just a comment on the clapping which I thought seemed to be after the hearse had passed, but there was a time when a minutes silence at football matches was often disrupted by jeers and dissent so they started a minutes applause which was observed more respectfully so that now silences are more poignant. Applause shows respect for a job well done and silence in respect of the person in my view

S*d the expenditure. They should do it, for all of them even the ones who stood and lined the route. They also serve who only stand and wait.

MrsKen33

And the Scottish ones too.

Definitely! It doesn’t matter how many times they did it, it was a special, and for me, nerve wracking job.
It would be good if all the troops involved in the various processions were given a commemorative medal, but that would bring forth cries about unnecessary expenditure.

And the Scottish ones too.

I would imagine the eight pall bearers will be recognised in some way by the King, perhaps a medal of some kind, as will the hearse driver and others.

Some of us here in Australia did not have a choice if we wanted to have the television on, almost every station covered the funeral, every news service covered the funeral.
Before anyone says it, yes, I could have just turned off the tv, but I didn't, I watched the funeral with the part of my brain that wasn't occupied with other things.
I appreciate that the Queen was a much loved person, but I personally found it a tad too much. Every twitch, sniffle, eye movement and breath (it seemed) of every member of the royal family was scrutinised, dissected and every single news reporter had a different theory of what they were thinking and feeling. My personal theory of what they were thinking is "Please let this horrendous day be over so I can get away from here and go home and mourn my mother/grandmother/great grandmother in peace and quiet without a million people waiting to see me cry"

For me, the most memorable moment was the lone piper at St George’s Chapel…walking away and the sound getting fainter. Gives me goosebumps remembering.

Not everyone watched it. I certainly did not. I did some satisfying DIY instead.

Thank you MaisieD. It would be enlightening, to say the least, to see a cost analysis etc for the event.
My DH, and many who work with him, are employed on a p/t hourly paid basis for 2 days a week. Their work days include Mondays; they lose a day’s pay this week (no tax paid, of course). I assume there are many individuals and businesses who have incurred financial losses as a result of the bank holiday. Extremely unfortunate when we’re living through a cost of living crisis, not to mention the threat to food security.

I feel for those individuals and families who cannot afford the privilege of dignity and pride.

Those eight young lads who carried their Queen's coffin were amazing. They did her proud...

And as the Russians have shown us in Ukraine, there is no point in having a very big parade, if when you try and use all those troops, they are as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Another thing to bear in mind is that these troops in their colourful uniforms are not just “tin soldiers”. I believe Queen’s Company, from which the bearer party was chosen, are currently in Iraq on active duty - the men of the bearer party were flown back to take part in the funeral.

According to press reports the 7’ 2” gentleman who marched with the Queen’s coffin down the lanes to Windsor Long Mile was indeed named Matthew Magee and like Tall Paul was given a nickname - Massive Matthew. He worked for the Queen for 4 years as her private secretary.

plus tanks and bumbs galore
Now that would be a spectacular and arresting sight M0nica!!

The Russians always feel the need to march 10,000s of troops for hours, all dressed in dull khaki. plus tanks and bumbs galore We did the funeral with, around 1,800, plus a few dozen horses and one gun carriage, without a gun on it.

And as the Russians have shown us in Ukraine, there is no point in having a very big parade, if when you try and use all those troops, they are as much use as a chocolate teapot.

As*Joseanne said*, quality, not quantity

nanna8

vegansrock

Why all this “we do this better than other nations”? boasting? Ever seen a Russian or Chinese military parade ? Or the French ones come to that. Yes it was a fine spectacle and made us proud( if just for one day to quote David Bowie).

Yes as a matter of fact I have. Russian and Chinese. Not a patch on the variety with the British and no historical connections,either.

I don't think it has anything to do with throwing an enormous parade to display our military might, like in Russia or China.
It was quality not quantity in the case of The Queen's funeral, personal touches abounded, the change in scenery at different locations was spectacular, the music was moving and fitting, and the crowd participation was instinctive and emotional. The military part was wonderfully choreographed to bring everything together but was not necessarily for show. Not boasting, but yes, nowhere else in the world can compete on such occasions.

I found the clapping rather odd, but each unto their own. I watched the funeral procession from the London Road in A
shford, as it passed me I just bowed my head and put my right hand across onto my heart, as a mark of respect to our/my late Queen. She was the only constant in Britain and she will be missed.
There were people of all ages including a group of young males, who were very respectful.

And I haven’t even got a British passport. I identify as Australian.

vegansrock

Why all this “we do this better than other nations”? boasting? Ever seen a Russian or Chinese military parade ? Or the French ones come to that. Yes it was a fine spectacle and made us proud( if just for one day to quote David Bowie).

Yes as a matter of fact I have. Russian and Chinese. Not a patch on the variety with the British and no historical connections,either.

Saggi

If anyone would’ve clapped at my mothers funeral I’d have told them to ‘go away’…in no uncertain terms….. how can anybody even think that is right!? …..totally disrespectful…. I don’t care about ‘different times’ a funeral is a funeral is a funeral!

Well they wouldn’t have would they. I’m assuming it was not a public event.

If anyone would’ve clapped at my mothers funeral I’d have told them to ‘go away’…in no uncertain terms….. how can anybody even think that is right!? …..totally disrespectful…. I don’t care about ‘different times’ a funeral is a funeral is a funeral!

Northernlass

That’s an interesting statement about the cost MaisieD; could you explain it a bit more?

You mean the one about much of the money coming back to the Treasury as tax?

Leaving aside any revenue that might have been generated by TV rights etc. just think of all the aspects of the funeral, and the preceding day's events which would have had to be paid for. All the fuel for the cars and buses needed, and for all the people who made special journeys to cities or viewing points to see the hearse on its journey south or the proceedings in London. Then hire fees for transport. As MOnica said, the hospitality industry which must have fed and housed many of the participants. The cost of hundreds of barriers to line the routes, which I would imagine are probably hired, the printing of orders of service. It's all a bit overwhelming to try to think of everything, but everything provided which had to be paid for would have been provided by private businesses and their staff.

Much of this would have been subject to VAT, so that's a start. Then the businesses have to pay their staff, so income tax paid on that. Then when the workers spend their money there's tax on just about everything they buy. It goes on and on. You think of something, it is taxed somewhere along the line. The only thing that won't be taxed is anything anyone manages to save for spending later.

That is basically how the domestic economy works, it doesn't matter if the money is put in by the state, as it was for the Queen's funeral celebrations and the new King's receptions and memorial services to attend, or by 'investors' or whatever. All transactions involving payment to businesses or individuals will end up being taxed away at some point as it moves round the economy. And it all helps people to make a living.

I hope I haven't been too confusing with this explanation.

The choreography outside Westminster Abbey was amazing - hundreds of members of the armed forces working in absolute precision, what organisation! I hope that the congregation inside the Abbey watched it later on catch-up/the news or whatever. It was perfection.

It was all beautifully done - from those amazing pallbearers, the special hymns sung and the mix of people from all nationalities who came out to pay their respect and love for Queen Elizabeth 11. The sound of the bagpipes of the lone piper was when shivers went up my spine and I became tearful.

Heartwarming and sad all at the same time. Everything went beautifully and everything perfectly executed. Perfection, the Queen would have been so proud of her men, I'm totally proud to be British.

grandtanteJE65: the evening before the funeral King Charles & the Queen Consort hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace. Attendees were Heads of State, senior world leaders and diplomats.
Once at Windsor, after the public ceremony etc, the royal family, at last, had peace and privacy.

The United Nations General Debate started at 9am today, in New York.