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.

@HilaryThorpe

I think Anne was there partly because the four of them would normally have been in uniform and for a long time she has been with the men in uniform at Trooping the Colour, the Cenotaph etc. There is a poignant image of the four Princes guarding the coffin of George V at his lying in state, though the then Princess Royal was not there. I think Anne has been instrumental in changing custom and practice and have no doubt she was supported by the family to do this.

I would bet good money that when HM dies and she lies in State Anne will be one one of the four corners. George V had 4 sons.

I would bet good money that when HM dies and she lies in State Anne will be one one of the four corners. George V had 4 sons.

I’d put good money on that as well.

I think the only reason she didn’t do it for the Queen Mother was to allow Lord Linley to do it as the fourth grandson. He was in the second row of the procession so I think there was a bit of balancing between the two.

What will also be very interesting when the Queen lies in state will be to see what happens with her grandchildren and if they do a vigil also. She has four grandsons and four granddaughters so in theory could have two grandchild led vigils also, though obviously things like the age of Viscount Severn would play a part.

This is what Wiki says

Queen Elizabeth II has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. She has four grandsons and four granddaughters. The official plans for the Queen's funeral, Operation London Bridge, call for the Queen's children to stand vigil over their mother's coffin, as well for the grandsons and granddaughters to do the same.[4]

@PhillipPhillop

This is what Wiki says

Queen Elizabeth II has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. She has four grandsons and four granddaughters. The official plans for the Queen's funeral, Operation London Bridge, call for the Queen's children to stand vigil over their mother's coffin, as well for the grandsons and granddaughters to do the same.[4]

Assuming Prince Charles doesn't predecease the Queen, a reasonable possibility at their ages

Granddaughters have never done the vigil of princes before so it’ll be interesting to see

@lidoshuffle

It has been tradition that the men follow the coffin - there's a bit in Cranford where an only child (daughter) breaks Victorian protocol and walks behind her father's coffin.

Maybe Anne got a special dispensation as Colonel in Chief of a regiment - in the past that would have been a man?

Not necessarily, I can't find much information strictly relevant to the UK but Princess Victoria held the title in Germany (as did her daughter-in-law and granddaughters). Tsar Nicolas II's daughters also had uniforms.

There were four people directly behind the hearse. All of them, were HRH's children, therefore, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
No sexist stuff going on. Just, his children.

@BobISMyUncle

There were four people directly behind the hearse. All of them, were HRH's children, therefore, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. No sexist stuff going on. Just, his children.

It's sexist if a woman could only be there if she was a daughter, but a man could be there if he was a grandson or a nephew by marriage isn't it? It's not the same rule for men and women so it's sexist.

And yes, he/they can do what they want blah blah blah.

It's sexist if a woman could only be there if she was a daughter, but a man could be there if he was a grandson or a nephew by marriage isn't it?

No one knows whether this was the case though.

@SoupDragon

It's sexist if a woman could only be there if she was a daughter, but a man could be there if he was a grandson or a nephew by marriage isn't it?

No one knows whether this was the case though.

No, it could just be that he preferred the male members of his family just by coincidence and it had nothing to do with sexist tradition.

Have people not read the thread?! They're all making the same comments that have been repeated endlessly. Is it sexist to have a baby and not feel like walking within a few weeks of the birth? Give them a break. It was a much loved GF's funeral, and they remembered him in the way they thought best.

Gosh. People looking for sexist, racist stuff? Really? It was a funeral! His children, walking behind his hearse! I fail to understand why that is wrong.
HRH and Queenie only had one daughter. Is that sexist? There were 4 people walking behind the hearse, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. All of them, walking behind the hearse. All four of them, his children. How is that sexist? FFS!!

@BobISMyUncle

Gosh. People looking for sexist, racist stuff? Really? It was a funeral! His children, walking behind his hearse! I fail to understand why that is wrong. HRH and Queenie only had one daughter. Is that sexist? There were 4 people walking behind the hearse, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. All of them, walking behind the hearse. All four of them, his children. How is that sexist? FFS!!

It's the row behind people are getting her up about. Harry, William and Peter. Apparently it should be age order and Zra should have just sucked it up 2 weeks after birth with probably roaringly sore boobs and bits and walked too. She's an Olympian so she should be up for it apparently. Same for the girls. Bea has no excuse beyond laziness and Eugenie had major abdo surgery 9 weeks hence so she's totally fine to walk it. Regardless of whether they want to or not. Should do it for feminism. We pay for them. They should walk where we tell them.

Or some such crap