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 senior men in the family walk behind the coffin. Anne ...can you imagine anyone trying to tell her she couldn't honour her father the way she thought right? It was obviously emotional for her. Well done, that princess.

@Exhausteddog I held my breath as I was watching them. There was someone behind them but I can’t imagine they could have done anything if the coffin slipped.

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...

Exactly. The papers were suggesting that the two brothers "had to be kept apart" as if there was a possibility of fisticuffs . The RF all have very good manners and would never openly argue, but the papers love to stir the pot !

@emilyfrost

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

Pretty much sounds like this.

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@Oncemoretwicemore think that poster is saying why did Princess Anne’s husband walk but other (female) spouses didn’t[/quote]
Timothy Lawrence is a commander in the Navy.

Military connections.

This was a naval funeral as the focal point- Duke's wishes.

Zara is only 3 weeks post partum. I expect she was struggling anyway just to be there and she is a grandchild, not a spouse and not connected with the military.

@mammmamia

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

Possibly. It's rather confusing when they use the term senior to describe the eldest when they also use senior to describe the lineage, in which case Peter is the least senior.

I don't think it matters why really, they can do as they please. I don't think it's anything to do with excluding the women. They had to to the best they could within the current guidelines.

@Westfacing

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

She had a baby about 3 weeks ago, maybe she didn't feel up to it.

It was the same when the Queen Mother died (I watched it from The Mall). I think Zara Tindall should have been one of those walking behind the coffin, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Unless they had asked not to, which of course should be their choice.

she was his daughter,
william and harry are the offspring of charles, philip's first born, william in line, our future king.
it all makes sense to me

perhaps it is a male thing, but anne would always take up any duty regardless.

I seem to remember a hoo ha about this at a previous funeral, possibly the queen mother? So originally it was only supposed to be men walking behind her coffin but Princess Anne kicked off and said she wanted to. So they let her. So I think she’s set a bit of a precedent for herself? But that normally it’s only men.

er, from what I've read
Eugenie gave birth almost 2 months ago
Zara had her 3rd child (healthy full term) so quickly (weeks ago) that they were born on the bathroom floor.

I would be bemused if I were either Z or E & people were saying "Oh you poor thing you can't possibly stand around or walk 10 minutes outdoors, you only just gave birth!" I don't care where they walked, but very surprised folk think Z&E are such delicate flowers.

and as for "they are just an ordinary family in their grief", Pfffffttt!! Yeah we all have televised funerals for our loved ones (goldfish bowl!) with marching military bands and grand grounds and long commenting threads on our facial expressions in social media etc. Every family funeral I've been to has been just like that.

Possibly. It's rather confusing when they use the term senior to describe the eldest when they also use senior to describe the lineage, in which case Peter is the least senior.

The front row of the procession always gives away how seniority is being defined as the middle person/middle people is the most senior.

This one was clearly done on family/age as it was Charles and Anne, whereas if it was royal rank it'd be Charles and Andrew.

The Queen Mother's funeral was done on rank, which is why William and Harry were in the middle of Peter Philips and Earl Snowdon as they were the senior ranking, despite Earl Snowdon being a grandson.

don't care where they walked, but very surprised folk think Z&E are such delicate flowers.

Zara could still be bleeding quite heavily, nothing to do with being a “delicate flower”. We don’t do women any favours either by pretending that childbirth doesn’t have a significant impact on a woman’s body that can last quite a while.

Three weeks after giving birth I would think hormones are still running riot so it might not be physical, walking back she had her husband to hand if she got upset, walking behind the coffin would be very different.

The disection from certain people about this funeral is absolutely disgusting, shame on you!

It’s royal protocol, and it’s what both Prince Philip and the Queen wanted. That’s reason enough

There was probably also consideration for Edward’s children as they are younger. Lovely to see Sophie with her arms round them when the coffin went past.

and as for "they are just an ordinary family in their grief", Pfffffttt!! Yeah we all have televised funerals for our loved ones (goldfish bowl!) with marching military bands and grand grounds and long commenting threads on our facial expressions in social media etc. Every family funeral I've been to has been just like that. hmm

Cameras don't take away the grief. Nkr does the band. I could ugly cry when burying my father. Imagine if they did. The press would have a hunting season on puffy eyes, smudged mascara and "top 10 ugly criers in RF".
Not envy them at all actually. Grief is universal, I could at least express it without giving a fuck

I assumed it was because 2 of the 3 adult granddaughters had given birth in the last 6 weeks and so Beatrice also didn’t walk for solidarity.

@peak2021

It was the same when the Queen Mother died (I watched it from The Mall). I think Zara Tindall should have been one of those walking behind the coffin, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Unless they had asked not to, which of course should be their choice.

Sophie maybe wanted to be there for her own kids. Her son is only 13. It also looked like she was there to support the Queen as well.

Who are you to tell them what they should do? Seriously, just leave them alone. I am no big Royalist but who are we to tell them how to organise themselves at a funeral.

I doubt I’d have wanted to walk either. I’d probably have been in tears and wouldn’t want that shown all round the world.

Jeez.
As others have said, it was all his choices and planned.
If he wanted My Way played over loud speaker and a Hells Angel's parade, that would have been fine too!

Eugenie also had a C-section due to her scoliosis.

Anne was wearing her medals.

i dont think beatrice, zara or eugenie did any military duty.

plus i think it is then men who walk, and Anne, because she does, she is a hard walker!

I think Zara Tindall should have been one of those walking behind the coffin

I really wouldn’t have wanted to do that walk in front of millions at 3 weeks post giving birth.