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Original poster

Princess Anne the only female behind the hearse

538 replies

jeanne16 · 18/04/2021 07:35

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.

OP posts:
pomers · 19/04/2021 19:59

As has already been said Eugenia and Zara have recently given birth.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/04/2021 20:50

@Localocal Right?! This shocked and annoyed me too you need to get out more.

Zara was an Olympic athlete, for God's sake. I'm pretty sure she could stagger across the grounds of Windsor Castle why would anyone WANT her to stagger across the grounds of Windsor though? How does that honour her Grandad more than the lads doing it? She gave birth 3 weeks ago and had to leave her baby behind. Why should she be forced to perform for you? Eugenie had major surgery 9 weeks a go - ditto what I said about Zara. Just so you can feel it's modern and inclusive?

someone decided it would look "right" for a phalanx of men to follow the casket the dead man and his elderly wife. How DARE they express their own preferences for the funeral.

They should have had the non-royal family members arrive first, then the spouses children and grandchildren of every gender, along with the underage grandchildren. Then the Queen. Then the casket procession with the children and adult grandchildren in age order walking behind well you can do that for YOUR funeral.

So Camilla and Charles could have sat with her instead of leaving her all alone there. Or Edward and his family. There's no indication the Queen isn't of sound mind. Maybe she did it how she wanted. I'm sure they know her better you.

Also disliked the Land Rover hearse. (You had a special car made for your funeral? To drive you 200 meters instead of letting soldiers carry you? You think he decided when he came out of hospital last time he'd better start planning his funeral as opposed to this being the decade long plans for his huge 800- guest funeral?

He "designed it" himself? You mean he said "Chop the roof off the back and load me on the bed of my old Land Rover when I die"?) Sounds reasonable. Guess it suits his personality better than a hearse. Almost like he has a right to have his funeral how he wants.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/04/2021 20:52

@pomers

As has already been said Eugenia and Zara have recently given birth.
not only given birth but Eugenie had major surgery NINE weeks ago
MollyMinniesMum · 19/04/2021 21:03

She was his only daughter

mumwon · 19/04/2021 21:35

Doesn't Camilla has severe arthritis

Retired65 · 19/04/2021 21:42

I think it was to do with Princess Anne being the only daughter. Princess Anne also did this at the funeral of the Queen Mother. Traditionally it is only men who follow the casket during royal funeral processions,

Lockdownbear · 19/04/2021 22:25

The Queen sat alone because of social distancing laws. Because she has a bubble of staff who have shielded her and Philip from covid she isn't eligible for a 'single adult household bubbles'.

Philips Landrover was to modernise the gun carriage he'd have expected to travel on "just put me in a Landrover and take me to Windsor" he didn't expect to died and have his procession in Windsor.

I have to smile he got his wish.

CallmeHendricks · 19/04/2021 23:00

@mumwon

Doesn't Camilla has severe arthritis
I think her mother suffered with osteoporosis and Camilla now is patron of associated charities. She might well suffer herself as well, but I've never heard her complain of it.
JustLyra · 19/04/2021 23:22

@Lockdownbear

The Queen sat alone because of social distancing laws. Because she has a bubble of staff who have shielded her and Philip from covid she isn't eligible for a 'single adult household bubbles'.

Philips Landrover was to modernise the gun carriage he'd have expected to travel on "just put me in a Landrover and take me to Windsor" he didn't expect to died and have his procession in Windsor.

I have to smile he got his wish.

She will be eligible for a bubble. Paid staff don't count. Otherwise people who have a home help, cleaner, etc wouldn't be able to bubble and they can.
Lockdownbear · 19/04/2021 23:46

I'd have thought she was eligible for a bubble maybe it's because the staff at there 24/7 and are shielding her from covid and therefore restricting their own lives. I don't know but if she could have had someone beside her I'm sure she would have

Mamanyt · 20/04/2021 00:06

Even beyond tradition, there is the not-so-little matter of protocol. Almost everything that every royal family does in public (and sometimes in "private") is surrounded by and bound by protocol. Protocols, both public and private, can, and do, change over time, but I imagine this one (should it exist) is long-standing. I would think that it is tied into the lines of succession somehow. That's a pure guess, but it would make sense, that those nearest to the throne would follow the casket most closely.

emmiep · 20/04/2021 00:17

Maybe because Zara and Eugenie had babies a few weeks ago? I wouldn’t have been comfortable waddling a mile after just having a baby!

Also, with the covid restrictions, they probably wanted to get more people in the chapel rather than half the congregation behind the hearse.

Craftgirlx · 20/04/2021 00:30

Princess Anne was exceptionally close with her father and is thought to be his favourite child. I imagine she wanted to walk otherwise it would have only been the men.

I personally think it looks much smarter when men take the lead at funerals. When my partner died I was offered a cord but refused it because of this even though his sisters and my mum took one. It’s personal preference!

JustLyra · 20/04/2021 00:36

@Lockdownbear

I'd have thought she was eligible for a bubble maybe it's because the staff at there 24/7 and are shielding her from covid and therefore restricting their own lives. I don't know but if she could have had someone beside her I'm sure she would have
I think it’s more if she wanted someone beside her she could have.

However, she knows that a lot of people have been sat alone at funerals this year, and if she chose someone to sit with then there would have been speculation about why she didn’t choose someone else and rumours of Charles/Anne/Andrew/Edward offended because picked A.N.Other and not them.

She may also have felt better alone. I, somewhat bizarrely, prefer funerals where I’m doing a reading or eulogy because it gives me someone to focus on. As soon as someone hugs me or squeezed my hand I’m gubbed.

CloudyGladys · 20/04/2021 01:46

Good on Anne for walking in the procession. She's done the nation a service by making sure Andrew wouldn’t be put in the front row.

HenGab4 · 20/04/2021 06:28

Thank goodness for the nice comments on this thread.

I can’t actually believe the comments of those even criticising the Queen and her family. It shows how some people were brought up & either taught no respect or have an attitude that they are right.

I guarantee those who have the good inside them are happier people in life. Those moaning should search their mind for good thoughts & see how your life will change for the better.

Enjoy life, you’re only here once and this is the real thing

Luddite26 · 20/04/2021 07:06

The Queen had bubbled with Lady Susan Hussey - a Lady of her Bedchamber - who accompanied her in the car.

Personally i felt The Queen sitting alone symbolised that she was prepared to do as so many have had to do this last year and more.

Similar to when after her Mother said in the Second World War, after a bomb landed in the garden at Buckingham Palace, I can now look the East End in the eye.

lollipoprainbow · 20/04/2021 07:10

@Irismarle I thought the heels looked lovely. Heels aren't just for wearing to nightclubs Hmm

chaosmaker · 20/04/2021 09:26

Wouldn't it be better to wonder why tories are in power? That's something that actually affects your life and that you can change!

LolaSmiles · 20/04/2021 09:33

HenGab4
I agree with you.
It's a horrible sign that people feel entitled to weigh in with how they think someone's funeral should be. A man died and his family, like many families, have had to have a smaller number of people attend the funeral than they'd like.

Does it really matter which of his family wore heels or whether a bunch of strangers approve of what postpartum women do at their grandfather's funeral?

Biscuitybiscuit · 20/04/2021 13:18

Princess Anne is the only daughter and they were all positioned in order of birth, only 30 were allowed

SleepingStandingUp · 20/04/2021 18:03

@Biscuitybiscuit

Princess Anne is the only daughter and they were all positioned in order of birth, only 30 were allowed
Ah but Zara is older than William so despite giving birth two weeks ago, she should have chucked on some flats and got on with it. According to some.
gogoinamercedes · 21/04/2021 09:36

As has been said before, Prince Philip planned his funeral. Royal protocol is still relevant in this day and age. After all, it was his funeral.

In this democratic society, we all have the choice of what we would like at our respective funerals. Speaking from experience, we should all make known to our families, perhaps when drawing up our will, what we would like to happen at our funeral including hymns and/or music.

JudgeJ · 21/04/2021 10:53

@Lockdownbear

I'd have thought she was eligible for a bubble maybe it's because the staff at there 24/7 and are shielding her from covid and therefore restricting their own lives. I don't know but if she could have had someone beside her I'm sure she would have
If she had chosen to sit with one of the family groups in a single person bubble, we would be here debating why she chose that child's family and not another! She removed all that by sitting alone, maybe she wanted her last private moment near her late husband to be as private as it could be, under the circs..
JudgeJ · 21/04/2021 10:56

@chaosmaker

Wouldn't it be better to wonder why tories are in power? That's something that actually affects your life and that you can change!
I wonder if Giles Orpen-Smellie will become the POlice Commissioner for Norfolk??? I keep wondering if some schools still refer to boys by their surnames, I once taught a Darling and that was bad enough!