Death of Queen Elizabeth II - Pre-Funeral Discussion and Reception

[Mbruno]

If I were CP Frederik, I wouldn't go. Whether the mix-up was on the UK's end or on Denmark's end, CPss Mary isn't going while other countries are sending 3 or 4 representatives when they probably shouldn't. So, just stay in Denmark. Queen Margrethe can represent the whole family.

I don't think Frederik would want his widowed, 82-year-old mother to go to the funeral alone, which would be much worse.

The British Foreign Ministry has today to Ritzau confirmed that they have send a profound apology to the DRF for inviting Mary by mistake.
Only QMII and Frederik will go.

https://www.bt.dk/underholdning/briter-undskylder-fejlinvitation-til-kronprinsesse-mary

That seems to contradict the infomation we heard from the Spaniards, which was quite specific. Nevertheless, I will not doubt what the Danish Court is officially saying. Maybe the invitation was badly worded and that caused the confusion.

As others said, either way, it was an obvious misunderstanding that left the Danish Court in an embarassing position of having publicly announced Crown Princess Mary's attendance only to have to retract that announcement later.

 

[Prinsara]

Benedikte will be quite happy to go with her sister for more family reunion time with their other sister in London.

No, Frederik is not going to stay home.

 

[Izzie]

If I were CP Frederik, I wouldn't go. Whether the mix-up was on the UK's end or on Denmark's end, CPss Mary isn't going while other countries are sending 3 or 4 representatives when they probably shouldn't. So, just stay in Denmark. Queen Margrethe can represent the whole family.

Actually, Frederik could have just gone to NYC and attended the UNGA events he was scheduled to attend on 9/19 in the first place. He did have other engagements that had to be cancelled.

The British Foreign Ministry has today to Ritzau confirmed that they have send a profound apology to the DRF for inviting Mary by mistake.
Only QMII and Frederik will go.

https://www.bt.dk/underholdning/briter-undskylder-fejlinvitation-til-kronprinsesse-mary

Thank you Muhler for the information. Now the assumption that it was somehow the DRF's inability to read or understand protocol can stop...or that it was even DK's fault and they're trying to save face. It was the British Foreign Ministry's fault. Glad the excuses and spinning can be put to bed.

 

[Muhler]

I don't think Frederik would want her widowed, 82-year-old mother to go to the funeral alone, which would be much worse.




That seems to contradict the infomation we heard from the Spaniards, which was quite specific. Nevertheless, I will not doubt what the Danish Court is officially saying. Maybe the invitation was badly worded and that caused the confusion.

As others said, either way, it was an obvious misunderstanding that left the Danish Court in an embarassing position of having publicly announced Crown Princess Mary's attendance only to have to retract that announcement later.

I haven't found the actual wording in English - anyway it's getting late.

According to the summaries in the Danish press, the mistake happened because so many invitations went out on such a short notice.
The wording of the invitation was phrased in a way as if Frederik too could bring someone with him, and not only QMII.

 

[Izzie]

I haven't found the actual wording in English - anyway it's getting late.

According to the summaries in the Danish press, the mistake happened because so many invitations went out on such a short notice.
The wording of the invitation was phrased in a way as if Frederik too could bring someone with him, and not only QMII.

Then THAT is on the British Foreign Office if their invitations were unclear. Regardless, too bad Frederik will be missing the first day he was supposed to be in NYC, which is discussion for another thread. As some of basically said...nothing to see here folks..just move it along.

But thanks again Muhler for providing information as to who made the mistake. At least that is cleared up.

 

[Mbruno]

A question: in past royal funerals (e.g. Edward VII, George V and George VI), foreign monarchs and presidents would also accompany the funeral procession across London before joining the funeral service at Windsor. In the new format, the main funeral service will be held at Westminster Abbey followed by a shorter committal service at Windsor, which apparently will be attended by family and UK or Commonwealth representatives only, but is there any chance that the foreign monarchs will take part in the procession too?


Funeral of King George VI

Funeral of King George V

 

[tommy100]

Then THAT is on the British Foreign Office if their invitations were unclear. Regardless, too bad Frederik will be missing the first day he was supposed to be in NYC, which is discussion for another thread. As some of basically said...nothing to see here folks..just move it along.

But thanks again Muhler for providing information as to who made the mistake. At least that is cleared up.

Perhaps a lesson learnt for all - don't confirm attendance publicly until after the rsvp deadline and the Foreign Office should confirm all persons attending before it is made public save it happening again.

 

[Bede]

Pre- Funeral reception

Whilst at Llandaff yesterday ( I went to school there and known-every nook and cranny ) chatting to a member of the press pool ( an old neighbour of mine ), I asked if any photographers were to be at BP on Sunday, they said yes ( not them unfortunately), so hopefully we see quite a few pics of the event, as sombre it will be, I wonder if a big group photo would be done to show the worlds leaders as a united group paying tribute to HLM. We use the word Iconic so much these days but that one single photo would truly live up to the word.

 

[Mbruno]

Any guidance yet on the dress code for the state funeral? Should we expect the foreign monarchs to be in uniform and wear orders as the members of the British Royal Family?

 

[lucien]

The royal house's communications department explains to BT why Crown Princess Mary will not attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral:

"There has been a regrettable error in the invitation of the British Foreign Office's protocol. Thus, only the Queen and Crown Prince of the Danish side will attend Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on Monday."

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongeli...-deltager-kronprinsesse-mary-alligevel-ikke-i

President Volodymyr Zelensky's wife Olena Zelenska to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral on behalf of Ukraine

https://www.skynews.com.au/world-ne...e/news-story/794e89b9b2264c5633aa6a4f39d3458f

A regrettable error____...Really....then correct it....

 

[tommy100]

Until we know exactly what was said on the invite we will never know exactly where the error came from - was it poorly worded or poorly interpreted? Who knows. I am surprised the Danish Royal House would be so blunt in their statement - might have been better to find a more diplomatic "solution".

The whole issue about busses makes me laugh - European royals have used them for ages; William & Catherine's wedding, the Dutch inauguration, the Danish Queen's birth "0" birthday celebrations. I doubt they have an issue with it at all. How ironic that the "men and women of the people" elected to high office won't lower themselves to ride a bus. But of course, it is the royals seen as "too grand" so often.

I am sure despite the ups and downs o the organisation - which is a huge task - the services for HM will be lovely, moving and a fitting tribute.

 

[lucien]

Until we know exactly what was said on the invite we will never know exactly where the error came from - was it poorly worded or poorly interpreted? Who knows. I am surprised the Danish Royal House would be so blunt in their statement - might have been better to find a more diplomatic "solution".

The whole issue about busses makes me laugh - European royals have used them for ages; William & Catherine's wedding, the Dutch inauguration, the Danish Queen's birth "0" birthday celebrations. I doubt they have an issue with it at all. How ironic that the "men and women of the people" elected to high office won't lower themselves to ride a bus. But of course, it is the royals seen as "too grand" so often.

I am sure despite the ups and downs o the organisation - which is a huge task - the services for HM will be lovely, moving and a fitting tribute.

Agree!!

Btw,the use of busses...On occasion of the Silver Wedding in 1962 of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard busses were used to move all and everyone about,including the Shah and Shahbanu of Persia,Queen Elizabeth and Philip,the King and Queen of Belgium,Grandduches Charlotte of Luxembourg,among many many others..all...and nobody complained or obstructed......

 

[Muhler]

Well, to me it sounds like the invite was poorly worded and in haste.
A guess: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II with someone else (usually meaning the spouse) but then someone recalls that QMII is a widow, and corrects it by inserting Queen Margrethe and Crown prince Frederik - and forgets to delete "with someone else". So that the invite reads: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik "with someone else"...
- A proofreading error, I imagine.
To me that sounds like the most obvious mistake.

Normally, if you accidentally invite someone by mistake you suck it up and include that person, rather than embarrassing those you invite. But not in this case.
So I imagine the Danish court has been annoyed and by extension the Danish Foreign Ministry, resulting in the British Foreign Ministry sending out an unreserved apology. - That's easier and faster. Problem solved.

Until we know exactly what was said on the invite we will never know exactly where the error came from - was it poorly worded or poorly interpreted? Who knows. I am surprised the Danish Royal House would be so blunt in their statement - might have been better to find a more diplomatic "solution".

The whole issue about busses makes me laugh - European royals have used them for ages; William & Catherine's wedding, the Dutch inauguration, the Danish Queen's birth "0" birthday celebrations. I doubt they have an issue with it at all. How ironic that the "men and women of the people" elected to high office won't lower themselves to ride a bus. But of course, it is the royals seen as "too grand" so often.

I am sure despite the ups and downs o the organisation - which is a huge task - the services for HM will be lovely, moving and a fitting tribute.

 

[Izzie]

Well, to me it sounds like the invite was poorly worded and in haste.
A guess: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II with someone else (usually meaning the spouse) but then someone recalls that QMII is a widow, and corrects it by inserting Queen Margrethe and Crown prince Frederik - and forgets to delete "with someone else". So that the invite reads: Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik "with someone else"...
- A proofreading error, I imagine.
To me that sounds like the most obvious mistake.

Normally, if you accidentally invite someone by mistake you suck it up and include that person, rather than embarrassing those you invite. But not in this case.
So I imagine the Danish court has been annoyed and by extension the Danish Foreign Ministry, resulting in the British Foreign Ministry sending out an unreserved apology. - That's easier and faster. Problem solved.

Thanks Muhler. I totally agree with you. Should have just sucked it up. But technically uninviting someone like that based on YOUR own error is unprofessional, disrespectful and amateur....especially someone of the caliber of Crown Princess Mary.

Question: Do we know when these invitations were sent out? And also, is the invitation to the DRF the only one so poorly worded?

 

[Mbruno]

Thanks Muhler. I totally agree with you. Should have just sucked it up. But technically uninviting someone like that based on YOUR own error is unprofessional, disrespectful and amateur....especially someone of the caliber of Crown Princess Mary.

Question: Do we know when these invitations were sent out? And also, is the invitation to the DRF the only one so poorly worded?

No other royal court or republic AFAIK raised any complaints about the invitations per se, so I think the problem was with Denmark only. There have been complaints about other logistical matters such as bussing and seating plans, which seem to have come mostly from republics and from the Arab Gulf monarchies, but not from the European courts.

It looks like the Spanish government in particular would have preferred that King Juan Carlos had not been invited, but they have not blocked his attendance once he was invited.

 

[Skippy]

I suppose the invitation may have looked something like this, the invitation for the King of the Ashanti:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570432119507148802

 

[Mbruno]

The President and the First Lady of the United States have boarded Air Force One and are now en route to the United Kingdom.

Obviously they did not follow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's advice to use a commercial flight.

 

[Izzie]

The President and the First Lady of the United States have boarded Air Force One and are now en route to the United Kingdom.

Obviously they did not follow the Foreign and Commowealth Office's advice to use a commercial flight.

It was never an option for the POTUS to travel by any other method than on Air Force One for various reasons. Thinking otherwise is naive.

 

[Sunnystar]

The President and the First Lady of the United States have boarded Air Force One and are now en route to the United Kingdom.

Obviously they did not follow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's advice to use a commercial flight.

That wasn't the FCO's actual advice. It was that Heathrow would be unavailable for private flights this weekend and to use other airports in London. Seeing as the US shares several air bases with the RAF, including one about 50 miles outside of London, my expectation is that Air Force One will be flying to an RAF base, possibly Northolt even, depending on what sort of agreement there is between the USAF and RAF.

 

[Frelinghighness]

I really don’t think that it is a question of some foreign leaders feeling more grand than the others. I think it’s a question of some of them being extreme targets such as the US leader and the Israeli leader

 

[Prinsara]

Any plane the POTUS is on becomes Air Force One.

But the last one who flew commercial did it for reasons that were a lot less important than this.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1569154025190313984

How many people do you imagine the Secret Service would currently allow on a "commercial" flight with the President, anyway?

Anyone who imagines the POTUS will come any differently than usual — with separate transportation, as usual — is not very familiar with how the US President rolls. Or else they see him rollin', they hating.

 

[Mbruno]

Any plane the POTUS is on becomes Air Force One.

But the last one who flew commercial did it for reasons that were a lot less important than this.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1569154025190313984

How many people do you imagine the Secret Service would currently allow on a "commercial" flight with the President, anyway?

Anyone who imagines the POTUS will come any differently than usual — with separate transportation — is not very familiar with how the US President rolls. Or else they see him rollin', they hating.

Don't many people, including members of the press corps, travel with the President on the "non-commercial" Air Force One anyway?

 

[soapstar]

Discussions about the invitation to the Danish Royal Family is going around in circles. Let’s move on please.

 

[camelot23ca]

I really don’t think that it is a question of some foreign leaders feeling more grand than the others. I think it’s a question of some of them being extreme targets such as the US leader and the Israeli leader

Agreed, and in the case of the US, at least, the President doesn’t get much of a say in the logistics of security and travel. Certain things aren’t negotiable and personal preference is irrelevant (I kind of think Biden, for example, would be in his element on a bus ride with his peers)

 

[Sister Morphine]

The President and the First Lady of the United States have boarded Air Force One and are now en route to the United Kingdom.

Obviously, they did not follow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's advice to use a commercial flight.

There was 0% chance the Bidens were going to be on a commercial flight. The Secret Service cannot adequately provide for his and Dr. Biden's protection on a commercial flight, and if they cannot adequately provide for their protection, then they don't go.

I'm sure it's a pain in the patoot for some foreign leaders to arrive by different means and to require different transportation when in London, but that's the nature of the world we live in today. The President of the United States is a target. The First Lady of Ukraine is attending in her husband's place. She is likewise a target.

Agreed, and in the case of the US, at least, the President doesn’t get much of a say in the logistics of security and travel. Certain things aren’t negotiable and personal preference is irrelevant (I kind of think Biden, for example, would be in his element on a bus ride with his peers)

Oh, absolutely. This is a man who rode Amtrak to and from his home in Delaware to Washington when he was in the Senate. However, he can't do that anymore, not without a lot of hassle for a whole lot of people.

 

[Sun Lion]

The Dean of Westminster has spoken about the hundreds of people involved in preparing for Monday’s State Funeral … working nineteen or twenty hour days.

Also, how some of the plans have had to be adapted, as they have been found not to work as was thought.

And also how some things are not running smoothly, such as having the flower-arrangers ready at the Abbey, but no flowers.

(Security had turned away the flowers when they arrived in a van that was not recognised.)

Everyone involved will have such memories of this time.

A couple of days ago people in the street broke into applause as the street-cleaners went past, to thank them.

People are pulling together, and it seems like a time when society is being strengthened by sharing in it all.

 

[Prinsara]

"The biggest security challenge since WWII": https://wapo.st/3DzqdQr

 

[Sunnystar]

The Bidens have arrived - flew into Stansted Airport. So, arrangements were made for one of the other London area airports, as expected.

 

[Mbruno]

The Bidens have arrived - flew into Stansted Airport. So, arrangements were made for one of the other London area airports, as expected.

I didn't have time to catch up with news. Was the President allowed to use a helicopter to get into central London? Stansted Airport is about 42 miles (or 68 km) northeast of central London according to Wikipedia.

 

[Sunnystar]

I didn't have time to catch up with news. Was the President allowed to use a helicopter to get into central London? Stansted Airport is about 42 miles (or 68 km) northeast of central London according to Wikipedia.

The video footage I saw showed vehicles off to the side as he was greeting some dignitaries, so I'm guessing they're being transported via the "Beast."