Princess Anne the only female behind the hearse

[jeanne16]

While the funeral was beautiful, I couldn’t help feeling annoyed that Princess Anne was the only female to walk behind the hearse. Surely all the grandchildren could have been included. Instead we see Beatrice, Eugenie and Zara tottering along on high heels. It would have been so much better to see them take an equal place with the men.

You can become King/Queen at 18. Well you can't, obv, but the designated one can.
Queen Victoria was 18 and about 4 weeks.

The constitutional age of majority in 1953 (as well as before and since) for the monarch was 18.

Interesting. I wonder why the age of majority was 21 for so long then for the rest of us? Well people over 72 now, because I came of age at 19 when they changed the law.

I suppose technically you could become King or Queen as a tiny baby, but you would definitely need a Regent then for a good long while.

@JudgeJ

The Earl of Snowdon is Anne's son, not her spouse. He inherited the title on the death of Anne's ex husband Anthony Armstrong Jones. Has anyone told Anne of all this???

I gather her language in private is -err- quite robust but maybe she'd just have a good laugh about it.

@Peregrina

I suppose technically you could become King or Queen as a tiny baby, but you would definitely need a Regent then for a good long while.

Mary Queen of Scots was a week old when she became Queen. And yes, she did need a regent.

Anne wasn't married to Anthony Armstrong-Jones

If Victoria had been under 18, the law at that time would have made her mother the Duchess of Kent regent. Supposedly it's one of the reasons that her uncle William IV held on as long as he did. He was not a fan of the Duchess.

You lot should all go off and watch king Ralph 😂

Princess Margaret was married to Antony Armstrong Jones. Anne was married to Mark Phillips and now Tim Lawrence.

I've seen it. My favorite scene:

Look closely, Call the Midwife fans, at one of the women in a tiara.

@Isthereaduckinthehouse

Covid rules, which the funeral abided by, wouldn’t allow Charles to walk arm in arm with them. Anything else is conjecture.

Why not Charles flanked by William and Harry then?

Why would a father have his one son flanked by his sons, and then his other kids behind? Imagine the aibu - my Dad has organised his funeral and wants us to walk behind the coffin. Fine. But he's said my brother and his kids should go at the front, and we his other children should fall in line behind them! Aibu to think the grandkids should be behind us? They're all adults.

It was about his children and grandchildren, not the Heirs and Spares

@PhillipPhillop

The Order of Precedence is fascinating. I didn't realise it was different if the royal males were in attendance. Interesting that granddaughters of former sovereigns take precedence over granddaughters of the current sovereign etc

Quite interesting to see how it changes when Charles becomes King and Camilla Queen (which is what she will be in terms of precedence whichever title she chooses to be known by).

... as was done with the Queen/Prince Philip where an Act was passed so that Prince Philip would have been Regent until Charles turned 18 ....

Is that correct? Back in 1953 the age of majority was 21.

Queen Victoria was 18, it's said her uncle, King William, was determined to live until she was 18 to avoid a regency.

I was glued to my seat watching the funeral and was surprised how emotional and tearful I got. I was glad to see Princess Anne marching along side Charles with her boots on. I was wondering if it was partly down to preference - who marched and who didn't.

I also did wonder if Peter Philips was stood between William and Harry to keep them apart or if that was tabloid spin. His central position could have been because he was the eldest grandchild.

Charles and Anne seem quite close - I saw a clip of them messing around at an official function when he snuck up to surprise her.

I think she's brilliant and it was moving seeing her and Charles together right behind their father's coffin.

Yes Frownette I saw that clip of Charles and Anne - made her chuckle.

@Inkanta you actually wonder if two adult very well raised men including the future Monarch needed to be separated by their cousin at a funeral?

William might have lost trust in his brother, he might be very guarded in what he discusses with him, the weather is a good topic of conversation, but they aren't going to let that show to the public.

Probably because that's what he wanted. He planned most of his funeral himself. Who cares. He got what he wanted as we all should for our send off. Not everything needs to be pulled apart and psycho analysed

@Backtoschool101

Probably because that's what he wanted. He planned most of his funeral himself. Who cares. He got what he wanted as we all should for our send off. Not everything needs to be pulled apart and psycho analysed

I am genuinely just waiting for someone to suggest seances to get the answer some people so obviously need...

On another hand. It's actually interesting theread when you concentrate just on the facts and history some posters mention here

Not everything needs to be pulled apart and psycho analysed

Are you new to Mumsnet? 😂😂

[quote Lockdownbear]@Inkanta you actually wonder if two adult very well raised men including the future Monarch needed to be separated by their cousin at a funeral?

William might have lost trust in his brother, he might be very guarded in what he discusses with him, the weather is a good topic of conversation, but they aren't going to let that show to the public.[/quote]
Exactly. The two children of the heir to the throne and eldest one of the Princess Royal (Peter also being the eldest grandchild of the Duke), were chosen to follow Charles and Anne, behind them were more grandchildren. Not a big deal unless people want to make one of it. It didn't look as though any of them minded. They'd probably be amazed that it is a topic of discussion.

I'd out eldest in the middle then one to the left and one to the right in age order. Seems Pp agreed. Not sure he didn't trust the boys to not push and pull each others hair.

Didn't think there were any more grand kids tho? Zara was standing with Bea and Eugenie and I assume Louise and James were considered too young?

I’m sure that’s what it was... William and Harry couldn’t be trusted not to pull each other’s hair

The fact that the middle person in a row at every royal procession before has been the most senior, and in terms of the grandchildren by age (and age is how they were doing it at this one hence Anne being next to Charles) Peter Philips is the most senior as the eldest, is just absolute co-incidence...

William and Harry couldn’t be trusted not to pull each other’s hair

Harry would have been at a disadvantage there.

@SoupDragon

William and Harry couldn’t be trusted not to pull each other’s hair

Harry would have been at a disadvantage there.

Ears