Who is overall in charge of the procession today?

[abovedecknotbelow]

You'd be shitting yourself wouldn't you? I'm no royalist but know that our forces can turn out at things like this (and glad to see so many women, particularly the one pulling the gun truck) but on whose head does it fall if it goes tits up?

@AclowncalledAlice , I meant I agree with you. So sorry for your DP’s loss, you did the right thing holding his hand .

It's the same guards for six hours but in twenty minute shifts....

That was absolutely amazing!

I found the beat of the drum, Big Ben chime & the cannon (it it was a cannon) almost hypnotic!

The Armed Forces were amazing! Well done lads & lasses! 👏👏👏

I don't know why my post didn't appear....
It's the same guards for 6 hours but in 20 minute shifts

It is a 'gun' not a cannon. But I think you alluded to that. I am not sure which gun and where it was firing, but not Horseguards' Parade.

Harry and Andrew are the ones not wearing inform and are the only members of the royal family that have seen active war service...

I think each regiment get 6 hours. Within that 6 hours they change guards every 20 minutes.

@EtonMessy You might be right there. Anyway, the handholding was a tiny part of an extremely moving and solemn parade. It only becomes a “thing” when people mention it and continue to talk about it. The posters who brought it up, could have just ignored it and concentrated on what what was actually important about today.

This is useful. The people in front of the gun carriage were some of HRH's staff at Buckingham Palace

The non-ridden horse is put in an awkward position, being on a short rein and unable to face forward effectively, I feel sorry for them, and hope they get a nice stretch and neck rub after doing their job.
They did so so well and of course are trained for it, but the short-stepping slow walk must be hard for them. The lead horse - being ridden - seemed the best suited.

Whereas Mike Tindall simply allowed the back of his hand to make contact with Zara’s. He was just subtly there for her.

Ref Charles swaying. There was a former military man on R4 this morning talking about his stamina in the queue. He said rocking on heels is an army trick when having to stand for a long time. I think he might have been doing that.

The non-ridden horse is put in an awkward position, being on a short rein and unable to face forward effectively, I feel sorry for them, and hope they get a nice stretch and neck rub after doing their job

Yes I noticed that.

William also walked behind his mothers coffin. He didn’t hold hands on the way out. It looks needy imo.

Lead horse called Lord Firebrand apparently. Fabulous!

I think it was very public spirited of M&H to hold hands and give people something to snipe about.

Oh yes, I heard that. Fabulous name - and did not show any "firebrand" behaviour. Quite the opposite. What a star!
(Well, they were all wonderful.)

The person who co-ordinates it all is the Earl Marshall, who is traditionally the Duke of Norfolk.
Obviously the military stuff is then worked out by each service, etc

The holding hands was truly awful, & the only jarring bit of the whole event.
So pleased to see The Queen's cousins there - they have all been so loyal to.her. Relieved the DofG made it in the procession, and then joined by the Duke of Kent & Prince Michael at the hall. Duke of Kent in particular looked like he was struggling, but obviously determined to be there - he actually walked behind the King's coffin in 1952!

Like everyone else, I am in awe of Charles, Camilla & Anne. I'm rather hoping that Camilla has a hip flask in her handbag, and/or is handed a massive G&T as soon as she gets home.

Everyone handles their grief differently! Just stop !

Yes trust it to be H&M that cause the national eye roll. Hope they get a right royal bollocking for that!

Oh Dear God my heart skipped a beat there when the Cavalry officers (I think that's who they were) were changing shift. I thought they would fall over their big boots coming down the steps from the catafalque. Or maybe I am just nervous for them all as you would be on an occasion like this.

I’ll save my eye rolling for Awful Andrew !! Only on Mumsnet where hand holding is worse than sex trafficking!!

How utterly horrendous to show emotion and a need for a hand hold. Just appalling. Why can't they be more like robots?

Yes - really pleased to see the Duke of Kent. He’s accompanied HMQ to quite a few things since she was widowed and, as a pp said, he walked behind George VI’s coffin. He is in his late 80s now, so probably wiser for him to be driven there.