State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II: 19 September 2022

[tihkon2]

There was a conjecture in the forum that only the monarchs who are Knights or Ladies of the Garter would attend the committal, but that was not the case as the Greek Royals were at Windsor too and, as far as I know, none of them are members of the order of the Garter.

It was probably because of their close personal relationship with the Queen and now King Charles, that they were invited to the commital service.

 

[RoyalNight]

Beautiful ceremonies. I can't imagine how draining today and days leading to the funeral musy have been for the Royal Family. Did they have any time today for a quick snack or sip of water? Not to mention bathroom break. George and Charlotte behaved impeccable, I'm very impressed.

 

[wbenson]

I also noticed that the soldiers acting as coffin bearers all seemed to be men. Is there a rule barring women from that role or is it just because of the composition of the armed forces?

Women were only very recently allowed in Guards regiments (2019, I think), so there aren't yet very many, but in any case the bearers all have to be roughly the same height at the shoulder, so it would very difficult to have a mixed-sex bearer party. Not impossible in general, but maybe impossible practically given the small number of women in the Guards.

 

[sophie25]

Women were only very recently allowed in Guards regiments (2019, I think), so there aren't yet very many, but in any case the bearers all have to be roughly the same height at the shoulder, so it would very difficult to have a mixed-sex bearer party. Not impossible in general, but maybe impossible practically given the small number of women in the Guards.

Royal coffins are lead lined and very heavy so it makes more sense for men to do it as well.

 

[Bede]

Couple chatting to Jordanian royals

Does any body know who the elaborately dressed couple were chatting outside chapel with Prince Hassan and Princess Haya of Jordan ( lovely to see her btw)

Also related to previous posts, I’m racking my brain, I don’t ever recall seeing a woman carry a coffin, and I attend or take about 30 funerals a year, maybe I’ve never noticed but I would imagine it would be difficult with heights etc ( my own siblings range from 6.6 rugby player to a sister 5.2 who looks like she would blow away in the wind, so it’s a definite no when the time comes for my dear parents)

 

[Skippy]

That was a beautiful state funeral. I cried less than I had expected, though.
On the way from Westminster Hall to the Abbey when the bagpipers began, then I broke. Amazing.
No country does pomp and circumstance better than the United Kingdom!

 

[tommy100]

Did the Grand Duke & Grand Duchess of Luxembourg attend the Windsor service?

 

[Durham]

Me too. Apparently this was the Queen's personal touch:

In that case the King of Tonga should have been given precedence as well.

Maybe it's related to very old ideas about European Christian princes belonging to a common category.

I would presume Tonga is a relatively recent (nineteenth century) mostly Christian country. Is there perhaps a difference between a monarch who happens to be a Christian & a historically Christian monarchy? Would a European monarch who was not related by blood to the late queen have been sat away from the other European sovereigns? I would presume not.

Although admittedly I don't know if there are heads of former European reigning house who are not related to the brf. Although I would presume there must be some?

 

[Princess Luna]

Did the Grand Duke & Grand Duchess of Luxembourg attend the Windsor service?

No, I think that service was just for close family and friends.

 

[cdm]

A little clip of Muick and Sandy
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CisZIKSg773/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

[Tirilschatz]

Speaking of seating, can someone point out where extended relatives sat? I saw the Hicks and Prince Philip’s nephews, but who were the people around them? Where did Penny, Margaret Rhodes’ family, Camilla’s family and the Middletons sit?

Camillas sister (and probably family, too) was seated next to Thomas Hooper, Lady Alexandra Hooper and The Countess Mountbatten of Burma (Penny) on the left side just before the Choir-Section ended and the part with the Royals and BRF started. Maybe someone can explain it better. They sat rather in the corner.

 

[Iain]

Me too. Apparently this was the Queen's personal touch:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60617519

"The Queen was then lowered into the royal vault and the Sovereign's piper played before a blessing and the singing of God Save the King. The performance by the piper at Windsor was something the Queen had personally requested, Buckingham Palace said."






In that case the King of Tonga should have been given precedence as well.

Yes, and also the Kings of Lesotho, Eswatini and the Maoris are all Christians too.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

No, I think that service was just for close family and friends.

I thought tommy100 was referring to the televised 800-guest committal service at Saint George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

 

[Durham]

The bagpipes were playing My Home and The Mist Covered Mountains - same as at the Queen Mother's funeral procession and we had the bagpipes play those tunes at my father's funeral too. Very poignant yet uplifting at the same time.

Yes you're right they were.

The choice of The Sky Boat Song was lovely. It's old Jacobite associations are very romantic.

 

[Princess Luna]

I thought tommy100 was referring to the televised 800-guest committal service at Saint George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

And according to BBC this morning, they said that there will only be the closest family and friends there. But that might be wrong. I didn't see any foreign royals there.

 

[Alison H]

I think they chose the tallest people for the bearer party, plus the lead-lined coffin was very heavy, so that would explain why they were all men.

 

[Durham]

Looking at old footage a gun carriage was used not only in London but also in Windsor for George vi. Although his coffin was taken by train from Paddington & then through Windsor streets from the central (?) station.

Also for him the naval piping was at the foot of St George's Chapel steps rather than at Hyde Park Corner. Extraordinary to think that the late queen's father was at the Battle of Jutland!

 

[ladongas]

I think they chose the tallest people for the bearer party, plus the lead-lined coffin was very heavy, so that would explain why they were all men.

But why were they all white? Missed opportunity…

 

[principessa]

I guess now the private burial is over and she had finally put in her resting space.

 

[Durham]

They were from a specific military unit, Queen's Company Grenadier Guards. They were chosen because they were all tall & of a similar height. So maybe no soldier from the BAME community was available who was of the necessary height.

They all did a fantastic job.

 

[Sister Morphine]

But why were they all white? Missed opportunity…

Seriously? There was no "missed opportunity." Either there aren't any Black Grenadier Guards or there are, but they're not tall enough to be in the bearer party. Would you have wanted them to find random Black men in London and stuff them into uniforms? You can't include people in a bearer party that are not there to be included.

 

[Lemon Lyman]

But why were they all white? Missed opportunity…

It was literally the tallest 8 in the unit. Nothing more than that.

 

[Mbruno]

And according to BBC this morning, they said that there will only be the closest family and friends there. But that might be wrong. I didn't see any foreign royals there.

There were actually several European royals present at the committal service, but fewer than those who attended the service at the Abbey.


It is still unclear to me whether those who were at the Abbey, but not at Windsor (Henri? Philippe?) were not invited to the committal service, or simply could not attend due to other engagements.



The ones that were present at both services include:


1) King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
2) Queen Margrethe II
3) King Felipe VI and her mother, Queen Sofia.
4) King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and Princess Beatrix.
5) King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.


I didn't see them, but other posters said that Queen Anne-Marie, Princess Theodora, CP Pavlos, and Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown with her husband, Prince Radu, were also at the Windsor service.

 

[Durham]

It was literally the tallest 8 in the unit. Nothing more than that.

On the subject of diversity there were women in the naval party pulling the gun carriage. And one of the naval officers at the head of the party was female. As well as at least one (black) woman reading prayers at the abbey.

Both firsts for a monarch's funeral I think?

 

[Princess Luna]

There were actually several European royals present at the committal service, but fewer than those who attended the service at the Abbey.


It is still unclear to me whether those who were at the Abbey, but not at Windsor (Henri? Philippe?) were not invited to the committal service, or simply could not attend due to other engagements.



The ones that were present at both services include:


1) King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
2) Queen Margrethe II
3) King Felipe VI and her mother, Queen Sofia.
4) King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and Princess Beatrix.
5) King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.


I didn't see them, but other posters said that Queen Anne-Marie, Princess Theodora, CP Pavlos, and Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown with her husband, Prince Radu, were also at the Windsor service.

So sorry, my mistake

 

[sarahedwards2]

A monarch is a monarch regardless of their title, so it makes no difference if one is a King and the other a Grand Duke.







The committal is the service that takes place at the burial.

So why would they have a burial service as well? I thought the committal at St. George’s was the burial.

 

[suztav]

Any ideas why Duchess of Kent didn’t attend? Last time I saw her at a royal event was Harry’s wedding.

 

[Stefan]

There were actually several European royals present at the committal service, but fewer than those who attended the service at the Abbey.


It is still unclear to me whether those who were at the Abbey, but not at Windsor (Henri? Philippe?) were not invited to the committal service, or simply could not attend due to other engagements.



The ones that were present at both services include:


1) King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
2) Queen Margrethe II
3) King Felipe VI and her mother, Queen Sofia.
4) King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and Princess Beatrix.
5) King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.


I didn't see them, but other posters said that Queen Anne-Marie, Princess Theodora, CP Pavlos, and Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown with her husband, Prince Radu, were also at the Windsor service.

Also the Baden's, Hesse's and Hohenlohe-Langenburg's but they are of course Family.

Looking at old footage a gun carriage was used not only in London but also in Windsor for George vi.

Pity that it wasn't done again this time but probably more practical like this.

 

[carlfraley]

where was HRH Princess Alexandra? there is one pic above labeled as HRH, but doesnt even look like her ?

 

[Durham]

Any ideas why Duchess of Kent didn’t attend? Last time I saw her at a royal event was Harry’s wedding.

Her health/stamina I would think.