"selfies" at funerals

it was not mandela's funeral but a memorial to celebrate his life... we take photos at celebrations!

My grandma wanted photos of my grandpa's funeral ..think it is more customary in places not so bound by formal etiquette!

Not humourless Margaret, dignified.

As for long speeches, I think Obama's was the longest!

If they had asked another person to take the picture would anyone have commented? All seems a bit harmless and not very newsworthy.

Do think the man himself would not have batted an eyelid over it!

poor old Angela. just because she's German she's thought to be a humourless individual. She has a good sense of humour and smiles lot.
She also has a good family life with step grandchildren.

The black people of S Africa are always jolly at funerals and now at memorial services. It was obviously catching and kept off the boredom of sitting through those long speeches.

That's why I assumed it was Glenys Riverwalk was talking about Ana but her response totally confused me

OR being a possessive wife !

He IS rather attractive !

TTBH RIVER there is a strong possibility , neither of them are very shy individuals !
Although I think Clinton has grown in confidence .
We were in Fayetville Arkansas , in Sept. and visited their first home , where they married in the front room.
The broker thought at first BILL & HILL were just hippy students did not realise they were part of the teaching faculty.
She was going to get married in some old frock till her Mother turned up and insisted going to the local departmental store and bought a wedding dress .
So things have come a long way since then eh !

I have a feeling Nelson Mandela would have had a good old chuckle and enjoyed a bit of harmless fun.

Trying to imagine Angela Merkel ever having a silly outburst. I can't.

I can imagine Hillary Clinton joining in a joke though.

Michelle Obama might just have been bored waiting, or tired.

Ms Thorning-Schmidt is married to Neil and Glenys Kinnock's son Stephen, Aka.

Which Mrs Kinnock did you mean then Riverwalk?

Yes harmless Nonu but do you think Hillary Clinton or Angela Merkel would have done such a thing?

And Michelle Obama didn't look best pleased!

Thought it all quite harmless !

Glenys Kinnock?

It doesn't matter Bags .... the OP just invited opinions.

I don't want to argue with you Riverwalk but you have called both Glenys Kinnock and Helle Thorning-Schmidt 'silly' or 'schoolgirlish' and defended the men involved. There's enough men ready to do that without woman adding to this general impression.

Just saying.

Why does it matter? No-one is harmed by it.

Aka from what I can see it was she who pulled out her camera .... Cameron and Obama could hardly say no and lean the other way.

She was the silly one unfortunately.

It wasn't during the service. It wasn't even at the service, but at the place where the service was going to be held.

But hadn't started yet.

Keep calm and remember how silly journalists like to pick holes in people based on very little.

Thought Michelle looked a bit fed up. Notice she hopped into Obama"s seat while he was giving his speech . As if to say "hands Off Helle" !!
Laugh !!

A 'silly' woman? How about silly men? Or is this sexism?

Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a highly educated woman.
She studied political science at University of Copenhagen, earning a cand.scient.pol. degree in 1994. She also holds a master's degree in European studies specialising in policy and public administration from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where she studied from 1992 to 1993. In addition to her native Danish, she speaks fluent English and French.

No doubt we'd all jump at the chance to have a selfie with Obama, but we're not the prime minister of a country.

The world's press was in attendance with wall-to-wall coverage, particularly of Obama, so plenty of footage for the family album.

Did Mrs Kinnock really need to act like a schoolgirl at a film premiere?

When I first saw the pic I thought it was Sally Bercow!

Not for me either MamaCaz but I stand by my earlier comment that it was totally harmless.

I guess I just don't like the idea of "selfies" anyway. I can understand youngsters doing it to share on the social media (thought those awful sexy pouts that even the youngest of little girls tries to mimic are truly awful), but grown men and women? Surely they know what they look like by now - anyway, isn't that what mirrors are for?
Ok, I admit it, I suffer from Grumpy old woman syndrome.