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.

When his father died very suddenly when OH was 8 he ws never told, he was collected from school and taken to his Aunt's for a few days, when he returned home he eventually realised that his father had died but no-one ever spoke of it. When we were newly married we went over to his mother's for the weekend, calling at his Grandmother's first, the house was locked up and a neighbour told us They're not back from the funeral yet, his grandmother had died and even as an adult he couldn't be told! Later his mother was on a long trip abroad and we went to see his Aunt and Uncle who were sadly in a mental hospital, we learned there that they were both dead weeks earlier, she'd known but hadn't told us.
Families can be odd about death.

@Highover

youre being ridiculous

kids wearing black isn’t gonna harm them
one iota

the world doesn’t revolve around kids and today isn’t about the kids, its about honouring their beloved great grandmother the queen and her life and service

stop trying to make it child centric

Exactly.
I took my daughter aged 2 years to a very dear family friends funeral. I asked her daughter aged 30 if I could and said there was no pressure. The daughter told me that my friend had said she wasn’t wanting a black funeral and colours and people just to be together to bond and that my baby was very welcome. She was a well behaved happy 2 year old and plenty of people had cuddles and played games. My friends daughter wrote after and said how lovely it was and that a number of her relatives with life limiting illnesses had actually been lifted by the new generation thought

I'm the last person to judge another parent for bringing young children to a funeral. My DS went to his first family funeral at a year old and he walked into the crematorium behind his grandad's coffin at 5, holding my hand, because he asked to and I think it's important not to exclude children from grieving together with the family.

But to quote another thread about the funeral, this is a state occasion, not your gran's send-off.

The only grandchildren walking behind the coffin in the Abbey were the eldest son's children. The only great-grandchildren were the heir's heir and spare. If it was just about family relationships and including all the children of the family in the rituals of grieving as they process their loss, what about James (14) who's a grandchild, what about Peter Phillips' children and Zara Tindall's eldest who are all great-grandchildren like George and Charlotte and of a similar age or older?

I do think they're too young to be asked to shoulder the obligations and trappings of state, which is what this is, so YANBU.

Forgot another grandchild Peter Phillips also walked in the procession but the point's the same.

I was taken aback to see them walking in the procession
I think that they probably were not really sad or grieving ..it was a great grandmother not a granny who they spent long periods of time with etc.
To put them through the ordeal of a full state funeral seems somewhat unnecessary, however they are part of the inner royal family circle, and they will be working royals...so with great privilege comes great responsibility and that starts at an early age.
I noted that Charlotte was looking around, fidgeting etc, which is understandable, PPs saying the children have done previous events - those have mostly been 'fun' things, the jubilee etc not a funeral in an enormous cathedral full of people in black who they do not know.

You were being judgy.

So the only reason you can not come up with is ‘I don’t like kids wearing black’ but can’t give a reason.

So you Aibu is ‘Aibu that Kate and William are not doing what I think they should, based entirely on my personal preferences are when it comes their kids and what the dress them in’

What an odd thing to say. My children are now 14 and 11. They have seen their great grandma at least fortnightly since birth and have a lovely relationship with her. She is now 103 and has only now started showing early signs of dementia.

My own mum died before they were born so she’s been their grandma figure. Why in earth should t kids have a relationship with older generations?

They were at Prince Philip’s funeral, so I would think it very odd for them not to be there today. As much as they may try to give them a relatively normal childhood, their life is not and won’t ever be normal. Big state events are already part of their experience and I think it’s sensible that they should be included now so that it feels normal to them. 9 and 7 is plenty old enough to understand what is happening.

They did us proud with the good behaviour and patience. I hope they have been promised a McDonalds at the weekend :)

I thought they were immaculate in every sense and a credit to their family, which clearly knows far better than us whether it is in their interests to attend.

Yes George and Charlotte behaved impeccably. I’m sure their parents were very proud.

I thought their level of participation was just about right, tbh. Kate has been with them the whole time, they essentially walked into the abbey and took their seats, they are both old enough to have a decent understanding of what is going on and why.

And at the end of the day they are second and third in line to the throne. It was appropriate that they were there.

Apparently Charlotte has a strong little character, I wonder if she was included to support George

And I'm sure we'll see plenty of Louis at the coronation where his mischievous personality will just add to what should be a happy occasion.

Um because she was my grandmother and their great grandmother. Who was a lovely kind person who liked to spoil them. We would go for a meal and then round her flat for an hour or so and then around 3 go off to soft play or the huge leisure centre right near where she lived.

Right up until 90 she would play cards and dominos with them, get special biscuits in and usually spoilt them with money

I dont get why you wouldnt. I was close to her growing up and she lived 25 mins away. Its an odd question

My GGM still alive is once a year as she is 98 and lives further away - DS though is into history and she can still remember key events so he likes talking to her

None of your business. Since when was it a bad thing for children to attend a funeral?

Fundamentally it is not the same at all.

You really honestly think that the fact the suit is navy rather than black will make an iota of difference to his experience? Other than I guess the fact it's mirroring his dad but I doubt you'd thought that deeply in to it when objecting!

I think if their parents felt forced into having them do this due to some sort of protocol then that's unreasonable.

If they made the decision to go ahead without pressure and thought G and C could cope/was right thing to do then that's fine and up to them.

Honestly why are some people so keen to not have children at normal family occasions like weddings and funerals? It isn't open casket for god sake. It's of course up to their parents and they are at an age where they can express their own wishes. I really don't get your concern!

You say it's one of the biggest events in history. All the more reasonable for them to be there. They aren't tiny children. They know to sit still. It was lovely seeing them.

Yes - there would be threads about how inhumane it was to give children umbrellas.

I posted on the wrong thread but I think you’re right. 😂

I'm sure it was a decision well thought out.
My colleague died at 38 and her 8 year old daughter went to her funeral. Death is part of life and children should not be shielded from it.

They are members of the royal family so even if they do some 'normal' things, they aren't really ever going to have a normal childhood. They didn't really walk far.

We had a funeral for my mother in law last week and we asked my children if they wanted to go. Teen wanted to go, 10 year old wanted to go, 6 year old didn't. He stayed with a family member and came to the wake afterwards.

I looked after them for the service so DH didn't have to worry about them. All fine, no one was traumatised by it.