George and Charlotte in the procession today

[Highover]

I’ve just read that George and Charlotte are going to be in the funeral procession today. I’m a bit gobsmacked. Why would their family want them involved in the spectacle? I thought they wanted them to have a ‘normal’ life. Am I alone in feeling uncomfortable with this?
IABU it’s right and proper that they attend their great granny’s funeral
IANBU Young children have no place at any funeral let alone this massive event. They should be at home with their Nanny.

Up to the parents, it’s not for you to decide that children shouldn’t be at funerals.

Realistically at that age it's a big fancy dress parade. They will be fine, although probably harmlessly bored during the service.

YABU I don't think there is anybody better placed to know what this will be like for them than their father, and if he thinks it will be fine I would trust his judgement

I think they will be fine - I am sure they have been prepped for this. Plenty of children of similar ages go to their grandparents funerals and these two already have some experience of being in front of the public. Plus, it will be very quiet and sombre - not like the other public events they would have attended with crowds shouting etc

It's hard to say because has this directive come from these shadowy people behind the crown 👑 or those within in the family?

YABU
I’m sure it has been discussed in great detail with W & K. Perhaps George and Charlotte expressed an interest in taking part. Leave them be and stop being so critical.

My main concern is that this is no typical family funeral. If they just went to The St George’s chapel bit, I might understand the decision more. I’m not saying that they should be shielded from the process and rituals around dying, but this is the biggest single event in our history and will possibly be overwhelming for them.
I hope they don’t dress them in black (but I have a feeling they will.)

Highover - They are not going to be in the procession - the amount of stuff that's been made up this week is unreal. What do you expect the children to be wearing? They will stand out more if they don't wear black.

William of all people will know exactly the correct way to deal with this. I can only imagine if anything he will be overprotective towards shielding his children and preparing them for their future life.

It makes me uncomfortable too, op. Mainly though because I don't think we can assume that it's theirs or their parents' wishes. Even at 12 amd 14, William and Harry were not ready for their enforced public grieving and it has left its mark on them. That wasn't their decision, but The Firm's. I doubt very much that William, Kate, George or Charlotte had much say in the matter. It's not just the procession either. It's a very long funeral, longer than ordinary folks' funerals and children misbehave when bored. Children their age attending a 20 minute reading, having chosen themselves to attend, is not comparable to this I don't think.

YANBU. I'm Irish and very much pro children at funerals, but this isn't any funeral. I would have thought waiting until the smaller Windsor ceremony would be better. Plenty of opportunities for them to be involved and say their goodbyes without it being at the state funeral.

I suspect they wanted to be there. It's normal for children to attend events important to their family, it's just their family is not like ours

They won't be meeting the public. They will be in a car to the abbey and then in.
They are very well behaved children and I very much doubt they will misbehave.

I actually think it's easier to deal with as a younger child than as a more aware tween/teenager. They are only processing a short distance and they are not going to have a normal childhood whatever they do.

I think William is beta placed to make this decision. Given he walked behind his mothers coffin.

Of course both he and The childrens mother would have been part of the decision.

Its not the same as throwing yours or my children into it. You couldn’t get my son on balcony or into carriage to wave at so many people. Because it’s not something he is used to.

YABU, they are royal children and this is part of their life.

YABvvU
They are very well looked after and they are of an age to understand that 96yo great gran dying is actually the natural order of life and not tragic. They can also understand that they were lucky to even have any great grandparents ever - and this will be even more keenly felt as one of their grandparents died before they were born. They can have it framed as a celebration of the Queen's life. Their parents have probably spoken to them, asked them if they think that they could do it etc. They will be supported. They will see that the public support them. And plus, George is our future king. They will be fine.

Plus they will have eachother - George won't be alone.

I'm uncomfortable with it too OP.

Plus W&K will have prepared them for the death. They will have known she was old. They will have known what was coming.

Why shouldn’t the children wear black?

Their family want them there as that family are dedicated royals. People whinge and there was a thread on here bashing them for not going to state schools. But you can see that they take the rough with the smooth and do their duty.

I don't understand all the fuss about them walking from the door of the
abbey to their seats.

My kids weren't in the funeral cars for their grandfather, my choice. When we were leaving the church DD made sure she got a space on the way to the cemetery. She was 9. She knew her own mind.

It’s obviously the Whales are doing it to push the Sussexes down the line visually. Petty.