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.

[lickenchugget]

@RaRaRaspoutine

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

There are going to be whales?!

Wow.

🐋

[RocketsMagnificent7]

@RaRaRaspoutine

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

🙄 Not everything is about them.

Also Wales**

[WimbyAce]

I think it is to be expected they will be at the funeral, I would take my daughter now at 7. I was 11 when it was my Grannie's funeral and there was no question about not going.

[GreenWheat]

@RaRaRaspoutine

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

What a silly thing to say. William is hier to the throne and Harry isn't. He doesn't really need to do any "pushing".

[Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious]

@RaRaRaspoutine

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

Oh grow up with your childish attitude. And it's Wales.

[Sparklingbrook]

If there's going to be Whales in the procession, I'll turn the TV on.

[Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious]

@Highover

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.)

Why wouldn't they dress them in black? The family is in mourning, they wear black colours to represent this. Why do you think the children would want to stand out in other colours?

[Luredbyapomegranate]

It’s their great granny’s funeral, I am sure they would rather be with their mum, dad and grandparents than at home

They are only walking up the isle to their seats

Its no big deal

[Luredbyapomegranate]

@Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious

Why wouldn't they dress them in black? The family is in mourning, they wear black colours to represent this. Why do you think the children would want to stand out in other colours?

They are used to be big public events and dressing formally like Mum and Dad

It’s not usual for them as it would be for you

[Mangledrake]

Processing inside the church seems okay. Camera range may be limited - i.e. no close ups. I'd have been devastated to be left out of something like this as a child.

They're used to church ceremonies and - to the extent that you can judge other people's kids - their behaviour on the balcony at the jubilee suggests that they're mature enough for this, and in George's case that he appreciates the significance of the event (as I'd expect of many nine year olds).

[CallMeLinda]

@RaRaRaspoutine

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

Lol. It's going to happen naturally anyway.
Harry is the Princess Margaret of his generation. The rest of the cousins will fade into relative, if very privileged, obscurity like the Kents etc, as the Cambridge/Wales children grow up.
It's actually the much better deal. Not so much in the public spotlight, but with a lot of perks due to being related to the core RF.

[liveforsummer]

In think once older they'd likely be unhappy if they hadn't been involved in the historic event celebrating the life of their great grandmother. My dc attended their great grandparents funerals last year at similar ages

[Hearthnhome]

Wow 2 pages in and

People think they know better than their parents

Think that William, having walked the whole behind is own mother in far worse circumstances, doesn’t know the right thing for his own children

That children shouldn’t wear black

Theres going to be Whales

and that William and Kate would do something they know isn’t right for their kids, so Harry, walking behind a 9 year old is harder to see. Is Harry shorter than George?

🙄

[LondonWolf]

There are going to be whales?!

Wow.

🐋

[C8H10N4O2]

I thought they wanted them to have a ‘normal’ life

Rookie error OP - they want a normal life when it suits, whilst still benefiting from the full PR engine of celebdom to obscure any little pecadillos and deflect onto the scapegoats.

[Prescottdanni123]

They are not joining the procession OP. They are walking from the front of the Abbey to their seats and then they are sitting down. They will not be passing the public or the paps. The stretch that they are walking will be orderly and calm.

Even if they were doing the whole procession, it wouldn't be anyone else's business but theirs and their parents. William and Kate know their kids best.

[Prescottdanni123]

Also, they are so young that the enormity of the event will go straight over their heads.

[Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious]

They are used to be big public events and dressing formally like Mum and Dad

It’s not usual for them as it would be for you

Yes so their parents will be wearing black so they will be dressing formally like mum and dad. So yes it's usual for them, dressing them in black will mean they are just like their parents and don't stand out.

[Prescottdanni123]

@RaRaRaspoutine

You mean to say that before showing footage of Prince Harry, editing crews have been digitally altering Harry's height for years and he is actually only 2 foot tall?

[Sparklingbrook]

Whatever they wear, someone on MN will say it's not the right thing to wear.

[Quartz2208]

Having just seen that Camilla Grandchildren are there children are certainly going.

[Snugglemonkey]

It must be a cultural thing. I find the idea that children should be excluded from a family funeral really weird. At my mum's funeral the youngest was my 3 year old niece, only my 9 month old nephew did not attend. A funeral is a family event first and foremost.

Certainly I think it is a good idea to shield the children from the press, but this is their great grandmother and they are entitled to play whatever part they want.

[TwaddleTwittle]

The whole thing is fucked up. They are brought up to believe they are, and feel utterly, superior.
In that context I don't see going to the funeral as any different to being made to entertain Presidents in your dressing gown and slippers. None of this is normal so I wouldn't even compare it to what I would think about my DC going to a funeral.

[HopingNotCoping]

@Snugglemonkey

It must be a cultural thing. I find the idea that children should be excluded from a family funeral really weird. At my mum's funeral the youngest was my 3 year old niece, only my 9 month old nephew did not attend. A funeral is a family event first and foremost.

Certainly I think it is a good idea to shield the children from the press, but this is their great grandmother and they are entitled to play whatever part they want.

Yes, I agree. I wouldn't ever consider excluding my children from a family or close friends funeral. Death is part of life.

And this funeral is going to be a hugely watched event. How would the children feel when people talk about it in years to come if they weren't part of it?

But I get that in some circles in the UK children don't attend funerals. (Historically I recall women didn't attend them! Seems so shocking now.)

[Highover]

Maybe I have misunderstood what is meant by ‘procession’.
I don’t like the idea of them wearing black because they are children. I’m not suggesting they should wear bright colours, but simple dark/navy outfits.
They are very young- they don’t know what they want -they can’t possibly - they haven’t ever experienced anything like it, none of us have.