Weren’t the pall bearers magnificent

It was brilliant as was the whole day.

It was brilliant. From something I read, I deduce that choosing and training the team was part of the long term planning for the event and they had been chosen and been in training for it for some time.

Given how metiulously everything was done the bearer team were probably first assembled about 10 years ago and as time went by members were changed as their careers moved on. I undestand they all had to have a minimum height of 6 foot.

Brilliant and well done. Your ? will be proud of you ?

I heard something on the radio this morning about all of the practising and rehearsing that they and others will have done.
It’s to ‘get the emotion out’, so that not only are they physically prepared but emotionally and psychologically too.
Almost ‘bored’ with it, iyswim.
I thought that was really interesting.

Apparently their final task was to move the Queen's coffin into place in the vault beneath St.George's Chapel, then collect Prince Philip's coffin from where it was placed last spring and place it next to the Queen.
Having to do that in the vault, which has many ancient royal coffins, would really give me nightmares..

They were amazing and they all looked so young too.

I wonder if bodies decay very slowly in lead lined coffins. I also wonder if cleaners go into the burial vault to clean it from time to time.

Under the floor has been a burial place in ancient times. I think it has to do with ancestor worship, so the ancestors protect the living.

Absolutely.... extremely proud families indeed.

I was proud of them and I dont even know them.

Flawless, what a proud time for them.

Those coffins are so heavy! DH grew up among a mainly Italian community and when a boy of about eight died they sent his body back to Italy. They had a funeral here first. His coffin was obviously very small but had to be lead lined to fly home. Only four bearers could fit under it and apparently it was all they could do to lift it at all.

At least they didn't have to carry it up those steps to St. George's Chapel. I hardly dared to watch when they had to carry Prince Philip up there.

The lead helps preserve the bodies. There was a major archaeological excavation of the graveyard in Spitalfield's church in East London a couple of decades ago. I went to a couple of talks by excavators from the site where they described the state of the bodies in the lead line coffins. Quite often well preserved but floating around in body fluids.

Eugh, not a nice thought, Monica! ?. This is an interesting article about the crypt at St George’s. It’s been used for burials since the time of Henry VI.

Has anyone else wondered what outfit the queen was wearing for her burial?

Adding the link might help. www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/royal-connection/royal-burials/royal-burials-chapel-location/

Not forgetting the way the rider of the police horse leading the procession up to St Giles in Scotland managed to control that rather fractious horse, particularly when the guns fired the salute. Well done that lady.

they were all amazing (and brave)

Jaberwok I noticed that and like you admired her horsemanship.

Agree! All very impressive.
Decided early on that the wreath, crown, orb and sceptre must have been fixed in place. Quite nerve racking watching the lifting and negotiating the stairs. Well done to all concerned

They were so classy. They deserve a medal.

I held my breath as the pallbearers carried out their duty. I hope they were able to relax after all the pageantry was over. The whole spectacle was awe inspiring. Such planning, such precision. So many memories for us all. From the Mounties at the front of the procession to the young soloists in the Abbey, everyone calmly played their part in tribute to Her Majesty.

Aren't we forgetting there were pall bearers carrying the coffin in Scotland? I really think we should remember them and show appreciation for their skill and strength.

Has anyone else wondered what outfit the queen was wearing for her burial?

Like you SueDomim I have been wondering about that.

Me too Spice and Sue
It has got me wondering about what anyone wears.
I have no idea what my mom wore, or even my Nan, and that was only last year.
Oddly I haven’t thought about it before (it’s usually the sort of thing that I’d dwell upon).
I can’t imagine wearing anything other than very posh pyjamas

All the pall bearers were so skilled and in time with each other. We watched the Scottish ones first and the whole Scottish March was very moving. I love the uniforms, especially the feathered caps.

There are growing demands to give MBE’s to the young pallbearers. Apparently those at Winston Churchill’s funeral were given them but were a higher rank so that may come into play. Yes the Scottish pallbearers did a good job too but did not have to move the Queens coffin so many times.

Surely they’d need to be flannelette pyjamas, Fanny? Silk would be chilly!

I'm not so sure the pallbearers should receive MBEs for a day's work however exacting. People strive their whole working lives in service to the community before receiving the MBE.