Prince George and the Queen's funeral

[KTKismet]

Can't sleep and read this:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11222927/Prince-William-Princess-Kate-considering-taking-9-year-old-George-Queens-funeral.html

AIBU to think "palace aides" should wind their necks in and leave Prince George alone, rather than insisting he attends the queen's funeral.

He has a lifetime of service ahead of him, surely they should preserve his childhood as long as possible. I think it's hugely inappropriate, AIBU?

He needs to be protected, that's what we normally do with children and I don't know why he should be an exception. King Charles shouldn't need to be bolstered by a 9 year old.

Assuming your DS is NT I think that's a mistake. I come from a (presbyterian) background where children don't go to funerals but have married into a (catholic) family where they do. My children had lost both grandfathers by the time they were 12 and they found the death where they could attend the funeral and burial much easier to process.

It is utterly ridiculous to compare a 12 & 15 year old walking for miles behind the coffin of their ACTUAL 36 year old MOTHER, with a 9 year old attending a public funeral for his extremely elderly GREAT Grandmother.

George will absolutely not feel a deep personal loss the way his father and uncle did. George still has the 2 most closest women in his life, his mother and granny middleton. So if he is able to sit for the length of the service then he should be there if his parents want him to.

Being there makes no difference to us adults watching, but I do feel the adult George as a future King most definitely would value looking back and being able to say that he was there at the funerals of all the monarchs that lived in his lifetime.

whatever William and Catherine decide I will respect and make no comment on.

I agree there’s a big gap between the two situations

The order of service has been published. Looks like George and Charlotte will attend.

www.westminster-abbey.org/media/15467/order-of-service-the-state-funeral-of-her-majesty-queen-elizabeth-ii.pdf

If I have read the Order of Service correctly, it seems none of Zara Tindall or Beatrice, Eugenie or the Wessex children are taking part in the procession? It doesn't seem right George and Charlotte take precedence over the Queen's actual grandchildren.

he and his parents can make this decision. It’s an utter media circus rather then a quiet funeral for granny

Don't forget this is the state funeral of a monarch - not a private family funeral saying goodbye to a much loved grandmother- so in the order of things they do take precedence as they're higher up the line of sucession as 2nd and 3rd in line to the throne. (Poor kids though, that's going to be tough for them, I can understand them going but walking?!)

I do think it's a shame that the older granddaughters haven't been included in any of the processions, only the grandsons. Feels very outdated to me. Unless they were given the choice and chose not to.

I think we have to remember it’s not just a family funeral it’s also the Monarchs funeral. Order of succession is important here.

I am sure the family are well used to the order of succession play a large part in their lives.

But also maybe the ones who aren’t walking in the procession, don’t want to. There’s been quite a few changes in events to bring certain things upto date. Mainly around Anne, but also all the grandchildren guarding the coffin, which I thought was very special.

So it could be that this was choice too. Or a decision made as a family and the older ones are happy with this

Given his fathers experience of the media circus for his Mother's funeral when only a few years older, I can understand why he would want to protect his son from that.

Being there makes no difference to us adults watching, but I do feel the adult George as a future King most definitely would value looking back and being able to say that he was there at the funerals of all the monarchs that lived in his lifetime.

Spot on. He’s now second in line to the throne. The constant implied criticism of the Wales’ parenting is pretty offensive. They appear to me to be doing a pretty good job.

This is a family who bow and curtsy to each other even in private according to a strict order of precedence. What we would consider normal family precedence doesn’t apply here. The grandchildren’s relationship with the Queen was acknowledged in their vigil.

I think its impossible to do the right thing by a 9 year old child within the institution of the monarchy. I think W&K do their best but their decisions can't be seen through the lens of ordinary parents.
Few parents would decide their child's role and lifetime commitment at all, much less without thought to the child's wishes, personality and aptitude. Prince George was born into a family where his role is more important than he is as a person, and parental decisions will reflect that.
I'm not sure why people are so concerned about this one decision, while ignoring snd upholding the more disturbing context in which it's been made.

This is a family who bow and curtsy to each other even in private according to a strict order of precedence. What we would consider normal family precedence doesn’t apply here

Thank goodness I'm just a commoner.

@sponsabillaries @Hearthnhome @Willbe2under2

Thanks for the reply. I suppose I thought it was strange (and I did have to google) that Princess Margaret's son and another cousin of the Queen took precedence over grandchildren.

Anyway, as you say all the precedence, pomp and ceremony overrule what we deem normal.

Does anyone really believe these clickbait articles in the gutter press ? "Insider of the palace/friend of Prince Harry says" is the new licence to journalistic (and I use the word lightly) invention.

Grow up OP you are too credulous.

I think the Palace aids should be more discreet and stop chatting to journalists every 2 seconds

Should children go to GGP funeral ? Yes if they WANT to but let's be realistic todays events are not a 'funeral' that 99.9999....% would be going to.
They are on the world's stage, being recorded, watched probably by billions of people , the family may have the stiff upper lip but thousands are lining the way and there will be mourning/tears from them. They will have to act with expected protocol and that is nothing about saying goodbye to a beloved ggm or understanding death of a loved one.
I know they have their personal service which will be good for them, but as others have said I don't need to see a child trotted out behind the cortege because it's 'protocol', 'establishment' or expected.

I agree it’s almost impossible to do the right thing for children of the most senior royals they are open to public scrutiny and the pressure they are under to do what is considered right for the monarchy will clash with what is right for the child

no protective parent would want the press at their child’s first day at school or have their every moment watched while in public but this is what they are being prepared for. It’s must be very difficult for Kate and William and I can completely understand why Harry and Megan made the decision they did

Now now @Porcupineintherough no need for insults! I am grown thank you.

As it happens... It appears George and Charlotte will attend the circus state funeral... Clearly optics more important.

Enjoy your day!

Of course optics are important. Why would you believe they aren’t?

But I am sure that Optics aren’t the main consideration of the parents. It will be for the Palace aides, because that’s their job.

It’s entirely likely that in this case that what the parents of the children, think is best also works for the Optics.

I don’t understand why everyone thinks this is about optics? William & Katherine care deeply about the children- like all parents - as PPs have noted it is not a surprise that the Queen died and she is their Great grandmother - who knows what the next funeral might be? Better to go along now - perhaps George asked why he didn’t attend Philips funeral? George is definitely old enough to know his own mind.

Because the Op wrote that the Palace aides should ‘wind their neck in’ and not be encouraging the children to attend.

But advising is exactly their job. And they are advising on Optics. That was the story the Op linked. Palace aides wanted George to attend to send a powerful message. ie optics. Why would they wind their necks in, when they are doing their jobs?

However, I would be a years salary that if William or Kate thought it would be too upsetting for the kids they wouldn’t have let them attend. Of course it should be their final decision. And yes, George and Charlotte likely did want to attend.

All decisions the RF make, including this one would consider the optics. To pretend it’s not part of it is quite naive.

Remember the royal family are going through change now and things can get shakey- popularity etc. I believe they want to show the future king to let us know they will be around for many years!

I personally think the children (G+C) were included in a very sensitive manner in the end. This morning I had read that they would be walking behind the coffin but I am pleased that they were actually in the car. There was also very little camera focus on them. Catherine was always by their side.