BBC 1 tribute is rather odd

[meateatingveggie]

I mean obviously it's pre recorded but how did they get them to speak of her in the past tense?

The whole OB from Balmoral was a media circus from beginning to end in spite of the serious voices and sombre clothing. Look at the shots of the inside of the car William was driving with Andrew, Edward and Sophie, and the picking over of their demeanour/expressions etc. in the studio. How is that any different from the shots the paparazzi take of celebs? So intrusive on the day they lost their mother/mil/grandmother. Makes me cross.

or the other GC would also have travelled to be with Granny in her final moments.

Why would you think that? The Queen had lots of grandchildren. She probably didn’t want lots of people hanging around her death bed. That would not be pleasant or appropriate for her. It was probably all decided long ago who she would want if it came to it - her children, and Sophie.

I just watched a short clip with Prince Charles speaking and thought it very odd too.

But it’s completely normal in royal circles. As has been said in countless posts. They also spoke about their dad and grandmother in the past tense in other tribute programmes. It’s all about putting your affairs in order -and this is one of the affairs to be organised. Exactly the same way as sorting out a will and POA, etc -something best done while everyone is in good health and sound mind.

But it was talked about in the past tense, ie this is the statement that was released at 12.30, as the PP says, when she was most likely still alive.

They obviously knew that it would likely be that afternoon though, which is the information they passed on to those who needed to know, the media, government etc.

The public did not need to know, but as others have said, this was pretty obvious anyway and hinted at, from the widespread wishes from foreign leaders to the media commentary stating how unprecedented the original statement was.

So no, we weren't lied to, we were given (likely correct) information at the time of the original statement, then not updated further until the death announcement. But we were told as soon as possible, once all the necessary arrangements had been made first.

I get the feeling that some people on here would have found it was done the wrong way whichever way it was announced.

I was thinking that when I watched it but I also noticed I think King Charles was wearing the same when he did his address last night so I'm wondering if that was pre recorded a few weeks ago too

His address to the nation yesterday was recorded yesterday afternoon and released early evening. It was not recorded weeks ago.

And how exactly is that our business?

She was 96. It was pretty obvious that she wasn't going to live for ever.

Medical information, even for the monarch is private. She was known for keeping that private. As she should. Not every single part of her life needed to be shared.

"If it's an open secret though that these types of things are pre-recorded doesn't it completely lose its meaning/value? It does for me."

How exactly?

It's not really an open secret - it's pretty obvious! The family and friends of the deceased (and it's not just royalty) are hardly going to give full interviews within a day of their loved one passing. The programmes are then edited etc - anyone should realise they were recorded months sometimes even years prior.

Totally agree.

Her family getting there was far more important than telling the media.

It was obvious there was going to be an announcement, but we didn't need it straight away.

We weren't lied to. The announcement was made within a few hours. Completely appropriate.

"media did not know or were involved in some sort of cover-up for six hours! As I said, the PM was told at about 16:30 and she would be about the first to know. The media were making preparations for an announcement all afternoon - just in case."

This!

A journalist will be the one to break a big story. And given that the family dropped everything to rush to balmoral would certainly give an indication that it was serious. The royal family cannot cancel engagements quietly, someone would have figured out that several had suddenly cancelled things and were on the move.

It was never going to stay quiet until the announcement was made.

Posters are correct the wider family and friends would need to be told first inc the great grandchildren in school, and Viscount Servern who was probably also in school. The Kents, Gloucesters, Princess Margaret's kids.

And Commonwealth Heads of State and Heads of Government, and High Commissioners and Ambassadors overseas, and I expect Royal Navy, Army and RAF bases and personnel overseas,, so that they were ready to respond appropriately.

If the British PM was informed at 4.30, presumably the word started to go out to everyone else then too, but it would take time, especially when it's night in some places, and people have to be woken up to be told the news.