Am I the only one who noticed the symmetry running through the service?
Anne broke tradition - in part with her father's blessing and encouragement. She was the only woman behind the herse. This is both because she was Phillip's daughter but also because it was a statement about breaking tradition.
This was the intent Anne's inclusion and it has to be deliberate and had to be the choice of Phillip.
Why?
Because it happened elsewhere in the ceremony.
Did you spot it?
It was most noticable for the choristers: three men and one woman. They stood in line male, female, male, male.
But it wasn't the only place it happened.
If you look closely at the end when the Royal Marine Buglers played 'The Last Post' you will notice that one of the Buglers was a woman. The one who stood in the second position...
And straight after that when the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry played 'Reveille' it happened again. (Note here: The fanfare of Reveille is to signify the start of a new day as one important chapter comes to a close.)
Lance Corporal of Horse Kate Sandford was the first female to take the role of State Trumpeter for a Royal Family Engagement - at Harry and Megan's Wedding. Again she was placed second in the line of the trumpeters.
It was very deliberate, conscious and a theme that ran through the day. Its about showing that Phillip was open to modernising and encouraging women to rolls which were traditionally not open to them. He WANTED to make a point about it.
As to why the other Royal women didn't march behind, it may have been their choice. But more likely because it was more about symbolism and making a point in a way which still retained its formality and regimented nature. A break from the past whilst retaining the essense of that tradition and representing Phillip's family.
Anne marched in a solemn, stern and sombre way which matched the beat of the military band. I'm not convinced that the rest of the female royals needed to also march given all this. It would have taken away from the moment and the symmetary and symbolism in the rest of the ceremony.
So much about these Royal Traditions are about symbolism and hidden layers of meaning that you have to understand the 'code' to get.
I might be way off the mark here, and barking up the wrong tree but since the dynamic was repeated four times during the funeral, I can't help but think that it was very very intential and to make a point but in a subtle understated way rather than to spark a debate about how sexist the Royal Family still are. I think that's missing the point somewhat too and not understanding what was actually going on.