Her Majesty's funeral
Gentleman Aviator
Add to that the rumour that Megan was using a hidden microphone during a walkabout.
Who'd have thought anything could go wrong................
Originally Posted by [email protected]
Her Majesty made the decisions about Andrew and Harry so why question her on that score? Her funeral = her rules.
Poor 'life choices' by both took them out of the 'working royals' group so it is quite proper they were not uniformed for the events.
Poor 'life choices' by both took them out of the 'working royals' group so it is quite proper they were not uniformed for the events.
Plus, Harry was happy to further break protocol with the holding hands routine as well while walking behind the coffin, which would have been even worse doing that, had he actually been in uniform...!!
Everyone's entitled to their opinion and I don't want to argue the point.
My view is that, setting protocol aside (which the King did for Andrew and Harry for the vigil), both served valiantly and as far as I know neither disgraced their uniform while doing so. Plenty others have, and still wear theirs in retirement. Double standards?
Having said that I could be wrong about Andrew. I remember the Vicki Hodge episode, although he wasn't wearing his uniform. In fact, he wasn't wearing anything at all.
My view is that, setting protocol aside (which the King did for Andrew and Harry for the vigil), both served valiantly and as far as I know neither disgraced their uniform while doing so. Plenty others have, and still wear theirs in retirement. Double standards?
Having said that I could be wrong about Andrew. I remember the Vicki Hodge episode, although he wasn't wearing his uniform. In fact, he wasn't wearing anything at all.
That impressive young man is a 2nd Lt in the Queens Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. He has a single "pip" correctly known as a Bath Star. He is commanding the 8 NCO's, ranging from Sergeant to Guardsman (Private). As important as his role is, he is being ably guided and supported by the backbone of the British Army, the Company Sergeant-Major (Warrant Officer Class 2).
One of the Guardsman was a 19 year old from Jersey who as won the Lieutenant-Governor's medal in 2018 when in the ACF.
The pall bearers for Churchill's funeral in '65 were all awarded the BEM, so hopefully these lads will be suitably honoured for a job well-done.
The, "This is how we do it here, and public opinion isn't going to change us.", has worked since Q Victoria (and before). Good luck with that in the social media age. HMTQ got it spectacularly wrong with Diana- and she knew it. Now that the Queen is gone, the republicans will stick their heads above the parapet, here and abroad. I am not saying go all Facebook and Twitter, but read the flippin room!
CG
CG
It seemed to me that yesterday was a perfect illustration of what's meant by the phrase "military precision". Superb.
There are some lovely images on the BBC News web site today. But one that isn't there, and one which I thought was immensely powerful, was the C-17 on approach to Northolt with all four landing lights blazing against the grey backdrop of the cloudbase. Did anyone else find that particularly poignant, and does anyone less technophobic than me know how to get a screen grab of it?
There are some lovely images on the BBC News web site today. But one that isn't there, and one which I thought was immensely powerful, was the C-17 on approach to Northolt with all four landing lights blazing against the grey backdrop of the cloudbase. Did anyone else find that particularly poignant, and does anyone less technophobic than me know how to get a screen grab of it?
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It was a state funeral planned and revised over decades. The coffin was made 30 years ago.
The exemplary showing by the armed forces, some of them the most junior in rank, was the icing on the cake.
It was obvious the late monarch had an input into some of the proceedings, as is required of the monarch in their life time.
That minor members of her household and other, not so notable people, were included says a lot about the planning.
The exemplary showing by the armed forces, some of them the most junior in rank, was the icing on the cake.
It was obvious the late monarch had an input into some of the proceedings, as is required of the monarch in their life time.
That minor members of her household and other, not so notable people, were included says a lot about the planning.
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I think the most poignant photo of the late Queen was Her sitting alone at the funeral of Prince Philp...whilst members of the Gov't were getting legless the night before.
The, "This is how we do it here, and public opinion isn't going to change us.", has worked since Q Victoria (and before). Good luck with that in the social media age. HMTQ got it spectacularly wrong with Diana- and she knew it. Now that the Queen is gone, the republicans will stick their heads above the parapet, here and abroad. I am not saying go all Facebook and Twitter, but read the flippin room!CG
George V was so concerned about the possibility of a communist rebellion here that he condemned the Russian Royal Family to its terrible fate. His mistake perhaps, but Queen Elizabeth II had the measure of her people if not her media and was, I would suggest, the greatest monarch we ever had (though threatened now with the threat of her acquiring that very title). It was never her style and is best forgotten to my mind. A very hard act to follow, but all the more reason to support HM King Charles III now in every way possible.
A reminder that Edward VII was the despair of his mother, whose long reign meant that he too inherited the throne late in life. He surprised all by making it his purpose to build the Entente Cordiale with our dear French friends (well, they were then!).
It seemed to me that yesterday was a perfect illustration of what's meant by the phrase "military precision". Superb.
There are some lovely images on the BBC News web site today. But one that isn't there, and one which I thought was immensely powerful, was the C-17 on approach to Northolt with all four landing lights blazing against the grey backdrop of the cloudbase. Did anyone else find that particularly poignant, and does anyone less technophobic than me know how to get a screen grab of it?
There are some lovely images on the BBC News web site today. But one that isn't there, and one which I thought was immensely powerful, was the C-17 on approach to Northolt with all four landing lights blazing against the grey backdrop of the cloudbase. Did anyone else find that particularly poignant, and does anyone less technophobic than me know how to get a screen grab of it?
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stevef
As was that of King Charles and the rest of the family, grieving in public during the last 10 days, but carrying on regardless.
As was that of King Charles and the rest of the family, grieving in public during the last 10 days, but carrying on regardless.
Given so much of what we have seen was planned and seamlessly delivered by the Civil Service, it is also a gentle reminder of just how capable the Civil Servant can be.
That impressive young man is a 2nd Lt in the Queens Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. He has a single "pip" correctly known as a Bath Star. He is commanding the 8 NCO's, ranging from Sergeant to Guardsman (Private). As important as his role is, he is being ably guided and supported by the backbone of the British Army, the Company Sergeant-Major (Warrant Officer Class 2). The entire funeral over the last few days has been probably one of the best "Purple" displays of collaboration, professionalism and precision you will see in a lifetime.
This curiosity detracts not one iota from my admiration of the bearers' devotion to task: like many, many others I willed the coffin up the steps without incident. I remember Churchill's bearers, in greatcoat order, struggling.
Last edited by langleybaston; 20th Sep 2022 at 22:36. Reason: error removed
Thread Starter
I felt an affinity for the Bearer party having been a pall bearer for a the military funeral of a colleague who met with an unfortunate accident a good few years ago.
He was a big lad in a heavy coffin and the route from the hearse to the church and thence to the grave was tricky one - nothing like the distance those fine lads carried Her Majesty, but intense all the same with the pressure of military colleagues and the family watching, a huge incentive not to bugger it up.
The raising and lowering of the coffin and getting it smoothly onto and off the shoulders beats a workout in the gym any day.
A fantastic job by the lads yesterday - even when the service was over they had to go down to the crypt/vault apparently for the final positioning of Her Majesty with her family.
He was a big lad in a heavy coffin and the route from the hearse to the church and thence to the grave was tricky one - nothing like the distance those fine lads carried Her Majesty, but intense all the same with the pressure of military colleagues and the family watching, a huge incentive not to bugger it up.
The raising and lowering of the coffin and getting it smoothly onto and off the shoulders beats a workout in the gym any day.
A fantastic job by the lads yesterday - even when the service was over they had to go down to the crypt/vault apparently for the final positioning of Her Majesty with her family.