To think this social distancing thing at funerals has gone too far?

[malificent7]

One of the cruelest things about the pandemic has been that people have often not had the send off they deserve which is understandable under the circumstances i spose. I have been to one online funeral, one well known persons funeral who would have had 100s of mourners but had 30 etc and was unable to attend the funeral of a friend.
Seeing the Queen on her own made me think wtf?! She has had her vaccination...why not sit with the family?
She did the right thing setting an example but aibu to be a bit confused as to how crowds thronged to Soho for a drink but the Queen cant sit with her family and the same applies for all funerals? Heartless.

They would have been absolutely crucified by the media and by public opinion if there was even a hint that they were doing anything other than rigidly sticking to the strictest interpretation of the rules. The curtain twitcher types would have been outraged because THE VIRUS DOESN’T CARE THAT THEY’RE SAD. The “it’s not fair” crowd would have demanded (with some justification) to know why it’s one rule for us and another for them. The amount of uproar over it would have completely overshadowed the whole funeral, and it would have been very undignified and unpleasant.

I know mourners who have been told they’ll be kicked out of funerals if they don’t observe correct social distancing. It’s very sad, and when you consider the fact that social distancing is ancient history in every single shopping centre and beer garden now, it makes the rules seem a bit arbitrary.

I also find it frustrating for those of us who took a leap of faith and tried to do the right thing by getting vaccinated, despite the many, many loud voices casting doubt over the vaccines safety and warning people against it. I got mine with the hope of unlocking a bit of freedom, only to now be told by “experts” that it doesn’t actually matter and life should/will be heavily restricted for the foreseeable future regardless.

In any case, funerals are a unique event and should definitely be given special consideration. They’re not like weddings, or family parties, which can be postponed for a year or so. I imagine for many being unable to have a “normal” funeral for a close loved one is actually very traumatic and will have a long term impact on their mental health.

I thought the funeral yesterday was an absolute masterpiece in social distancing and whilst I agree, it felt wrong for the Queen, it was important to get it ‘right’ given the sheer numbers of people who have said goodbye to loved one with the restrictions in the last year. And that’s before you think about the whole world watching. It was the right thing to do and I am sure, behind closed doors, as with many of us, decisions were made to break the rules on this occasion.

Awful isn't it. We had my father in laws funeral a couple of months ago and his wife sat alone . Sister in law and I were desperate to condole her, but her daughter would have bitten our heads off so we stayed away

@Sparklingbrook I agree, lots has been written in the press about it being a shame she couldn't have anyone next to her holding her hand, this wouldn't have been the case anyway it's not the royal family's way to show emotion in public.

[quote lollipoprainbow]@Sparklingbrook I agree, lots has been written in the press about it being a shame she couldn't have anyone next to her holding her hand, this wouldn't have been the case anyway it's not the royal family's way to show emotion in public. [/quote]
Yes even without Covid the Queen wouldn’t have been hugging or holding hands with anyone. Prince Charles/Princess Ann wouldn’t have sat with his arm around her or anything. Just in the seat next to her.

The person in her car was likely to have been in her bubble but not invited to be one of the chosen few in the actual funeral.

I agree the Queen did the right thing but it was sad to see...

I found the images of the queen almost unbearably poignant. She looks so little and alone now. At one point walking into the chapel she looked behind her and it was almost as if she was looking for Philip.

The problem with the Covid rules is that so many of them are for show, to be seen to be doing something, rather than for practical reasons that are going to make a measurable difference, and that seems particularly cruel at times like this when there is a real need for common sense to be applied.

Prince Andrew was sitting just a couple of seats away but the press has chosen to frame the photos in a particular way and highlighted the way she was alone.

In general though it has been shown household and family transmission is one of the biggest risks for spreading covid so allowing funerals without SD would be risky.