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.

The pall bearers are senior military types.. Exact detail of who in the Times. Given the inclusion of some relative 'outliers' in the walking party, I'm going to go with Philips preference overriding any set protocol for ceremonial funerals.. Use of a range rover is hardly standard is it and if I can't see anyone arguing with him if he says he wanted Snowdon or whatever. I thought it was probably, possibly even because of Covid, pretty close to the low key thing he would have preferred. It was terribly sad to the see the Queen so on her own though.. A shame Anne couldn't be near her for instance.

I have read it’s the eldest grandson who walks in the middle - that’s Peter... nothing to do with peace keeping!

Earl Snowdon was his nephew.

His children, his grandsons, his nephew and his son-in-law is hardly a bunch of outliers or odd choices.

@eaglejulesk

You feel annoyed because someone else’s funeral was the way they wanted it and not how you think it should have been?

Totally agree. What on earth has it got to do with anyone who walked, who didn't, what happened at all. Would you like it if people questioned the choices any of you made for a family funeral?

Spot on

@OpusAnglicanum

The rest of the women weren’t there because it’s traditional for only the men to walk behind the coffin. (Think back to Diana’s funeral. That’s why those poor boys were there.)

Princess Anne was, quite rightly, actually breaking tradition. She was especially close to her father.

That seems the obvious answer doesn't it?

Jesus Christ. Really? Maybe the Duke wanted that? But yes, you continue to be annoyed at someone’s else’s funeral because not enough women were walking.

Zara and Eugenie just gave birth a few weeks ago. Maybe that's why it was done the way it was.

FlyingBurrito oh certainly he did make personal choices as Huw Edwards said - the landrover hearse being the visible one. But the structure of the (scaled down) funeral procession, the rules about precedence, the displaying of his insignia (though he chose which ones), the standard on the coffin, the recitation of titles etc is all pretty standard procedure.

A lot of funerals tend to be male orientated - in our extended family only the men (and boys) are pall bearers even though the coffin is brought in on a specially designed trolley so there is no real muscle power needed.

Yeah, I didn't think this is the occasion for feminism. It was what Prince Phillip wanted. That's literally the only thing that matters.

@Westfacing

I noticed that. Why for example was Peter Phillips there but not his sister Zara?

Zara gave birth 3 weeks ago. She could still be bleeding and uncomfortable.

Don't think

And you could see that Beatrice was really upset. Maybe she didn’t feel up to it

Leave them alone

@Meredusoleil

I thought it was because she's PP's only daughter?

This ^

Plus as a PP has said - the DoE planned his funeral meticulously. It is most likely what he wished.

Although most of the women ended up walking back up the hill when they waved the cars away after the service

Princess Anne's husband is a retired Royal Navy Officer so imagine it was mostly that reason he was there with Princess Anne.

I don’t understand why you’re annoyed, it was the funeral Philip wanted, it’s really not your place to decide he was wrong, no one there was slighting him, clearly in fact they all looked really upset.

Honestly why would you decide to use a funeral as a way to slag them Off. there’s plenty of other reasons if you just want to attack the royal family. This isn’t one.

The DofE planned a lot of it, but it was considerably scaled back. Including the procession.

It’s highly unlikely that if any of his granddaughters wanted to walk they’d have been told they couldn’t.

The Queen approved Princess Anne walking behind the Queen mother, which was highly unusual for a royal funeral. They wouldn’t have prevented the other girls if they’d wanted to walk.

Two have very recently given birth and one was openly crying when she arrived at the chapel. It’s likely as simple as they just didn’t want to walk. I can’t imagine anything worse because they’d know they’d be in absolute full view of the tv cameras for that part.

@OpusAnglicanum

The rest of the women weren’t there because it’s traditional for only the men to walk behind the coffin. (Think back to Diana’s funeral. That’s why those poor boys were there.)

Princess Anne was, quite rightly, actually breaking tradition. She was especially close to her father.

Yes its traditional sexism that has manly men marching behind whilst the delicate flowers weep behind their veils.

It isn't the first time Anne has effectively challenged sexism in protocols, pity she seems to be the only established royal willing to push even the mildest of boundaries.

@mammmamia

I have read it’s the eldest grandson who walks in the middle - that’s Peter... nothing to do with peace keeping!

Very likely! There are all sorts of rules around precedence (and a College of Heralds to remember what they are and advise on them). But family feud makes a better story for the papers...

@MakingPlans21

Princess Anne is often voted the hardest walking royal.

I can’t believe nobody else picked up on this. Glorious bit of punnery. 👌👏

I bet those pall bearers had to practise going up steps holding a coffin a few times. Especially as I think Royal coffins are lead lined.

I thought the same. Imagine the weight of responsibility, in every sense of the word.I thought they must have practised, especially steps (although presumably with something of similar dimension and weight rather than the real thing)

DH was a pall bearer earlier last week and he said he was glad the walk was only about 20 yards! (And that was a standard coffin). One of PPs pallbearers was visibly red and sweating by the time they reached the front of the chapel.

MakingPlans21
Princess Anne is often voted the hardest walking royal.

I can’t believe nobody else picked up on this. Glorious bit of punnery.

Only just noticed

I think it is fine. I don't really mind if tradition drags behind how society moves. It is comforting. My daughter was married yesterday (with 13 guests in church ) so watching that plus Prince P's funeral was very moving.

It was sad at neither were those present allowed to sign the hymns and only the hired singer (singers) at each. Back in the 1980s my choice to take on my husband's surname was difficult for me as a feminist but it has ended up being a lot simpler as I suspect will be my daughter's decision. It is hard sometimes to get a fair solution which also works in practice.

Princess Anne has the military status to walk behind the funeral. I think she is really good member of the royal family.

This was the funeral Prince P wanted (although the low numbers allowed - 30 for funerals (and 13 for weddings) is due to the legislation which I oppose but follow.

Such a strange thing to be "annoyed" about and then post about.