State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II: 19 September 2022

[Alison H]

The components of the wreath all had meaning - rosemary for remembrance, myrtle to symbolise a happy marriage, oak to symbolise steadfastness - and they came from the gardens of the royal residences. The colours were meant to match the royal standard. White is more usual for a funeral, but I actually thought the brightly-coloured wreath looked really nice.

No, there were no Thai royals at the funeral, only the ambassador. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason why: maybe they just thought it was too far to travel?

 

[Mbruno]

This is a minor quibble, but did anyone else feel that they should have used all white flowers on the coffin?
Those pink flowers clashed with the royal standard.

I think the flowers were chosen either by the Queen herself or by the King. The florist didn't have a personal choice.

 

[Skippy]

The wreath looked beautiful with those shades of pink, it was perfectly matched and didn't clash.

 

[HRHHermione]

This is a minor quibble, but did anyone else feel that they should have used all white flowers on the coffin?
Those pink flowers clashed with the royal standard.

No, I thought it was lovely, especially when I learned how personal it was. Much nicer than generic funeral flowers.

 

[lucien]

Apparently, Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia was unable to attend due to having tested positive for Covid. I didn't see Archduke Karl of Austria, though I read that he would attend. I had hoped that Georg Friedrich of Prussia would have been invited, likewise the Duke of Bragança. Among the other 'missing' royal houses were, it seems, Albania (Crown Prince Leka), Montenegro (Nikola) and Russia (Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna).

It was crowded as it was at the Abbey,no room,understandebly.

 

[lucien]

The components of the wreath all had meaning - rosemary for remembrance, myrtle to symbolise a happy marriage, oak to symbolise steadfastness - and they came from the gardens of the royal residences. The colours were meant to match the royal standard. White is more usual for a funeral, but I actually thought the brightly-coloured wreath looked really nice.

No, there were no Thai royals at the funeral, only the ambassador. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason why: maybe they just thought it was too far to travel?

Their king is in Bavaria...how far is that....

 

[Lilyflo]

This is a minor quibble, but did anyone else feel that they should have used all white flowers on the coffin?
Those pink flowers clashed with the royal standard.

I liked the coloured wreath but didn't like the inclusion of pink at all - clashed with the standard's yellow & red. I'd have swapped the pinks & peaches for purples, which would have looked good with the crown too.

 

[Stefan]

Apparently, Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia was unable to attend due to having tested positive for Covid. I didn't see Archduke Karl of Austria, though I read that he would attend. I had hoped that Georg Friedrich of Prussia would have been invited, likewise the Duke of Bragança. Among the other 'missing' royal houses were, it seems, Albania (Crown Prince Leka), Montenegro (Nikola) and Russia (Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna).

I found it strange that Emanuele Filiberto apparently got an Invitation as the Winsors and the Savois are not related. They same for the Habsburgs. The Prussian, Hannovers and many more are closer related

 

[Mbruno]

I found it strange that Emanuele Filiberto apparently got an Invitation as the Winsors and the Savois are not related. They same for the Habsburgs. The Prussian, Hannovers and many more are closer related

I suppose the European members who are much more knowledgeable about non-reigning royal families and follow them closely can explain that better, but what is exactly the criterion to treat different non-reigning houses differently?


I understand that King Constantine has a different status than a pretender because he is a living former monarch. The same applies to Tsar Simeon and to King Michael when he was still alive. I also understand that the Greek, Romanian and Serbian royal families are related to the British Royal Family. However, as a non-European, it surprises me that the Greeks, Serbians, Bulgarians and Romanians have such a high standing at events in most European courts, while much older and greater European houses are completely neglected.

 

[Toledo]

I found it strange that Emanuele Filiberto apparently got an Invitation as the Winsors and the Savois are not related. They same for the Habsburgs. The Prussian, Hannovers and many more are closer related

Maybe out of a sense of familiarity via history? In WWI Italy sided with the Allies and WWII, after removing Mussolini, Italy was rescued and again sided with the Allies.

This makes me think of Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon storyline where the Valerian royal houses escaped a natural disaster and relocated in Westeros so they are perceived with the same respect as when they resided in their own lands. The show takes a lot of clues from the behavior of Post WW royals between themselves.

 

[P Green]

The Queen's coffin

The Queen's coffin will presumably last (fairly intact) for centuries, considering it is lead-lined and (not buried) but interred 'above ground', is that right?

 

[Sister Morphine]

I suppose. I don't think anyone's going to dig it up, later on, to find out what color shoes she's wearing, though.

 

[Stefan]

I suppose the European members who are much more knowledgeable about non-reigning royal families and follow them closely can explain that better, but what is exactly the criterion to treat different non-reigning houses differently?


I understand that King Constantine has a different status than a pretender because he is a living former monarch. The same applies to Tsar Simeon and to King Michael when he was still alive. I also understand that the Greek, Romanian and Serbian royal families are related to the British Royal Family. However, as a non-European, it surprises me that the Greeks, Serbians, Bulgarians and Romanians have such a high standing at events in most European courts, while much older and greater European houses are completely neglected.

I think a lot of it has to do with personal connections and friendships.

 

[P Green]

I think Henry VIII's was uncovered many years later which is in another part of the same vault

 

[Curryong]

I expect the coffin will be intact for a very long time. I read that it (the coffin) will be stacked on top of Prince Philip’s on a metal frame (because of the lack of room) and that the Queen Mother’s was put into the vault in the same way.

 

[Lilyflo]

The Queen's coffin will presumably last (fairly intact) for centuries, considering it is lead-lined and (not buried) but interred 'above ground', is that right?

I'm sure the wood has been treated to ensure it lasts for centuries. I wish some parts of the press wouldn't adopt 'casket' as it's a coffin, which is what most British people end up in.

 

[P Green]

I'm sure the wood has been treated to ensure it lasts for centuries. I wish some parts of the press wouldn't adopt 'casket' as it's a coffin, which is what most British people end up in.

What is the difference?

I think the difference is 'normal' folk are buried 6 feet into the Earth
The Queen is to be interred above the Earth in a vault (underground room)

 

[eya]

Prince Emanuele Filiberto talks about the funeral of the Queen Elizabeth where he was unable to be present because he was blocked by Covid , which still reports him positive.

"I was very saddened by the fact of not being able to go and not being able to personally greet so many people, even my cousins, whom I love very much; but we spoke by telephone and we arranged to meet at the next great historical event, namely the coronation of King Charles III, for which I have great affection and esteem ", he reiterates.'

https://www-adnkronos-com.translate...tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=el&_x_tr_pto=sc

 

[Lilyflo]

What is the difference?

A casket is rectangular and chunkier - used in the USA I believe. A coffin has tapered sides and is more common here.

 

[Lori138]

Question: During the procession, I think near Windsor castle, there was a man in morning suit carrying two blue coolers (like drink coolers). I have the photo but cannot seem to get it on here. He was behind those in uniform.

Does anyone know why he would be carrying said coolers?

 

[Alison H]

I suppose the European members who are much more knowledgeable about non-reigning royal families and follow them closely can explain that better, but what is exactly the criterion to treat different non-reigning houses differently?


I understand that King Constantine has a different status than a pretender because he is a living former monarch. The same applies to Tsar Simeon and to King Michael when he was still alive. I also understand that the Greek, Romanian and Serbian royal families are related to the British Royal Family. However, as a non-European, it surprises me that the Greeks, Serbians, Bulgarians and Romanians have such a high standing at events in most European courts, while much older and greater European houses are completely neglected.

The Balkan royals are related to the British royals on the Greek/Danish side and or the Saxe-Coburg side. I think that's what makes the difference.

 

[maria-olivia]

Was the Scepter with the biggest diamond laying on her late Majesty Coffin the one of the Tower of London or a replica .
If it was raining what should have happen with the Velvet and diamond Crown ?

 

[HRHHermione]

Was the Scepter with the biggest diamond laying on her late Majesty Coffin the one of the Tower of London or a replica .
If it was raining what should have happen with the Velvet and diamond Crown ?

It was most certainly the actual scepter, orb and crown. There would be no point to those objects if replicas were used in actual ceremonies of state.

The crown jeweler was looking after them the entire time. I’m sure they would have had a plan for rain.

 

[BritishRoyalist]

The whole funeral yesterday (both services) was lovely and dignified. Of course, I didn't expect anything less. The funeral processions were quite something especially the one to Westminster Abbey. The last part at St. George Chapel was a bit moving.

I was wondering, Diid any of The Queen's relatives on her mother's side attend?

 

[Blog Real]

I suppose the European members who are much more knowledgeable about non-reigning royal families and follow them closely can explain that better, but what is exactly the criterion to treat different non-reigning houses differently?


I understand that King Constantine has a different status than a pretender because he is a living former monarch. The same applies to Tsar Simeon and to King Michael when he was still alive. I also understand that the Greek, Romanian and Serbian royal families are related to the British Royal Family. However, as a non-European, it surprises me that the Greeks, Serbians, Bulgarians and Romanians have such a high standing at events in most European courts, while much older and greater European houses are completely neglected.

I think this must be a matter of status. The Greek Royal Family is related to most royal houses including the British and Constantine II was still a monarch.
The same is true of the Bulgarian Royal Family. King Simeon II was still a monarch.
The same thing happened with the Romanian Royal Family when King Mihai lived. Currently, the Romanian Royal Family still has a semi-official role in their country.
The Serbian Royal Family also has a semi-official role in their country and they still live in their palaces.
It was also these non-reigning royal families who were invited to Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Royals relatives of late Prince Philip (from his sisters) also attended the Queen's funeral.
https://c1.quickcachr.fotos.sapo.pt/i/G0f18bff6/22361840_SpPSZ.jpeg

 

[Marengo]

I imagine it had to do with the fact that they were all reigning in the interbellum and during the war, so more recently than the Habsburgs etc.

Only the Savoy's are usually not included in this group. But that may be due to the particular personality of the prince de Piedmont and perhaps due to the fact that the Savoy's were -rightly or wrongly- tainted due to their collaboration with Mussolini ánd catholic, which means that there will be few family connections as well.

 

[Minister of Court]

Two poignant, little moments for me:

The procession of the ladies-in-waiting.

The older European monarchs joining in singing God Save The King.

 

[Claire]

Was the Scepter with the biggest diamond laying on her late Majesty Coffin the one of the Tower of London or a replica .
If it was raining what should have happen with the Velvet and diamond Crown ?

There is replica of the crown jewels - I think they are used to stay at the Tower when the real ones are send in for cleaning. Unsure the reasoning ? I was told that by a beefeater - wonder if it is true. But for ceremonial purposes they use the real ones.

 

[Claire]

Was the Scepter with the biggest diamond laying on her late Majesty Coffin the one of the Tower of London or a replica .
If it was raining what should have happen with the Velvet and diamond Crown ?

I wondered the same thing - as at some point it looked pretty gloomy out there. I wonder if there was a glass lid for the casket somewhere ?

My husband collects project plans - yes. I accept your sympathies. He has a number from airports - Dubai, World Cups ect. And he is writing to ask for a copy of the project plan for the Queen funeral as he wants to study it. He says it is a master class on co-ordination and agility. I have told him that I would have an easier task getting DNA samples.

 

[principessa]

I wonder how the funeral had looked when she had died in the last two years and in the pandemic situation. I guess she would have been gotten a funeral comparable to the funeral of The Duke of Edinburgh and a big thanks-giving service either in Westminster Abbey or St. Pauls-Cathedral when the situation would have been improved.