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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:
AbsolutelyPatsy · 18/04/2021 10:07

if anne hadnt been there would there have been a thread?

she is the one who broke with tradition, as is her want.

it is not tasteless to question.

SoupDragon · 18/04/2021 10:07

@rwalker

FFS it's not about men v women he only had 1 daughter and I'd put money on Peter Philips was there between Harry and William due to whats gone on between them.
Then you would lose your money.
LadyIsabellaWrotham · 18/04/2021 10:08

I didn’t watch the funeral but I do happen to know the answer to this one because it was discussed by the royal correspondent on Newscast the other day.

Traditionally for Royal funerals only men walk behind the hearse. As part of the discussions that were had with PP about his funeral arrangements before his death Anne specifically said that she would like to be one of the group as well. PP agreed to her request and it went into the plan.

SoupDragon · 18/04/2021 10:10

What is wrong with people that they have to make snidely digs and complaints about how someone's funeral was done? A funeral that was planned by the person himself in great detail.

Livelovebehappy · 18/04/2021 10:13

Who cares? It’s a funeral. They don’t owe us any explanations on which people do what roles in what order blah blah blah. This is one occasion when the RF have the right to conduct the funeral in what way they see fit, without pandering to people whinging on the sidelines.

the80sweregreat · 18/04/2021 10:14

I doubt Harry will think anything about what he has left behind. His wife son and unborn child all live in LA , so he will be pleased to go back there to see them. I doubt he'll have any regrets personally. (I've never met any of them by the way, but just an observation. )

userxx · 18/04/2021 10:14

@SoupDragon

What is wrong with people that they have to make snidely digs and complaints about how someone's funeral was done? A funeral that was planned by the person himself in great detail.

Exactly, also why the digs about heels too. Who knows, it could of been one of his requests!

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 18/04/2021 10:15

I'd put money on Peter Philips was there between Harry and William due to whats gone on between them

Do you honestly think that they need someone between them to prevent them fighting at their grandfather’s funeral?! Seriously?

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 10:18

@TheOneWithTheBigNose

I'd put money on Peter Philips was there between Harry and William due to whats gone on between them

Do you honestly think that they need someone between them to prevent them fighting at their grandfather’s funeral?! Seriously?

Yes massive brotherly brawl on the street outside St George’s Chapel? How disappointing that Peter Phillips did not let that happen. Angry
TustedFormula · 18/04/2021 10:20

In think in most large families, whilst there might be a bit of discussion around it, the lines would be fairly easy to draw, based on the relationships, which of course we know nothing about.

E.g. my sister us very close to our great aunt, I'm not. There's no issue, it's just that over the years they've lived closer and spent more time together with some shared interests.

JustLyra · 18/04/2021 10:21

Also have I missed something about Peter Philips?

Like, if William and Harry suddenly did decide to have a full on brawl does Peter Philips being in the middle give him some special powers that he wouldn’t have if he’d been 3 feet left or right?

Where’s the logic?

BigFatLiar · 18/04/2021 10:22

@DoingItMyself

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.
Apparently when the details were being discussed with PP she asked to be included and so he had her added to the list of followers.
Pyewackect · 18/04/2021 10:23

... because it doesn’t matter.

LindaEllen · 18/04/2021 10:23

This was Prince Philip's funeral, done as he wanted it to be done. Those were the people he wanted walking behind his hearse. You really don't need to bring equality into funeral processions. All that counts is that that's what HE wanted at HIS funeral.

Sparklingbrook · 18/04/2021 10:23

@JustLyra

Also have I missed something about Peter Philips?

Like, if William and Harry suddenly did decide to have a full on brawl does Peter Philips being in the middle give him some special powers that he wouldn’t have if he’d been 3 feet left or right?

Where’s the logic?

There is no logic is there? It makes for a good bit of speculative gossip and drama. The disappointment of seeing W&H chatting away walking up the hill would have been immense for some.
FlyingBurrito · 18/04/2021 10:24

@rwalker

FFS it's not about men v women he only had 1 daughter and I'd put money on Peter Philips was there between Harry and William due to whats gone on between them.
Don't be ridiculous, do you seriously think that two grown men were going to start some kind of physical beef whilst walking a short distance at their grand father's funeral in front of millions of TV viewers around the world?

Yes, that was really something the Queen was worried about Hmm

FlyingBurrito · 18/04/2021 10:27

@JustLyra

Also have I missed something about Peter Philips?

Like, if William and Harry suddenly did decide to have a full on brawl does Peter Philips being in the middle give him some special powers that he wouldn’t have if he’d been 3 feet left or right?

Where’s the logic?

If only we'd all known about his secret super power we all could have a bet like @rwalker and clearly we'd have won as whatever it is it worked, not a sniff of any kind of handbags or squaring up to be seen

Well done Peter Phillips, he'll be in demand how all around the world for his skills.

Anne1958 · 18/04/2021 10:28

Yes, but we’re talking about who did/didn’t walk behind the hearse. Why was Anne’s the only spouse to walk was what I’m saying

Probably because like Prince Phillip he had a naval career and he served as an Equerry to the Queen as part of that career.

PhillipPhillop · 18/04/2021 10:29

Lovely funeral. The marchers fanned out into a pyramid at the bottom of the steps (4:3:2) so the only possible addition could have been one more person at the back. Maybe James, Edward's son was included originally (David and James together, Tim at the back?) but who knows. The only thing about the guest list I thought would be more fun was PP's non-relatives ditched for 6 friends. I'm sure he is close to Margaret's children and the Gloucesters and Kents but to make up a fifth of the guest list? I mean if you had to chop a guest list down from 100s to 30 would you have selected Daniel Chatto, your wife's niece's husband? Light-hearted btw, they could be best drinking buddies for all I know.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 18/04/2021 10:34

Do you reckon Peter said ‘right lads, no funny business, I’m watching you’ to William and Harry before they set off?

Babyroobs · 18/04/2021 10:34

My teenage dd commented on this. Our theory was that Eugenie and Zara have just had babies a few weeks ago so may still be recovering/ exhausted etc. No idea why Sarah Chatto was not there alongside her brother. No idea why Tim Lawrence there except to balance things out so that Princess margaret's son had someone to couple up with ! No idea why Beatrice didn't walk with them. Maybe it was left largely to personal choice.

JustLyra · 18/04/2021 10:36

@TheOneWithTheBigNose

Do you reckon Peter said ‘right lads, no funny business, I’m watching you’ to William and Harry before they set off?
I’ve now got this vision of Peter Philips as some sort of secret warrior or martial arts expert that everyone is scared of and it’s given me a proper chuckle

“How do we sort this situation?”
“I think it’s time to send in Peter...”

itsalifetimesworkfella · 18/04/2021 10:36

@emilyfrost

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

Quite!

Frazzled2207 · 18/04/2021 10:37

I imagine Philip would have had the original plans nailed but probably not the covid-friendly slimmed down version.
Agree was odd. To have Peter, William and Harry but not Zara and then Earl Snowdon but not Lady Sarah. And Anne's husband but none of the wives (though most of the men are divorced).

That all said could have been difficult for Zara and Eugenie having very recently had babies and most of the the women including obviously Her Majesty not being keen to walk in heels.

JustLyra · 18/04/2021 10:38

@PhillipPhillop

Lovely funeral. The marchers fanned out into a pyramid at the bottom of the steps (4:3:2) so the only possible addition could have been one more person at the back. Maybe James, Edward's son was included originally (David and James together, Tim at the back?) but who knows. The only thing about the guest list I thought would be more fun was PP's non-relatives ditched for 6 friends. I'm sure he is close to Margaret's children and the Gloucesters and Kents but to make up a fifth of the guest list? I mean if you had to chop a guest list down from 100s to 30 would you have selected Daniel Chatto, your wife's niece's husband? Light-hearted btw, they could be best drinking buddies for all I know.
Given its know that Sarah and David are both very close to the Queen and Philip it’s more likely that they simply weren’t seen as “wife’s niece/nephew” and he seen them as his niece and nephew. He was very close to Princess Margaret as well.