Prince Philip [sad]

[StormzyinaTCup]

Just heard Prince Philip has died

Yes Sophie has surprised me a lot this year. She actually does shifts at a food bank. Not just the royal photo shoots you expect. Apparently she has been supporting the queen since Philip first went into hospital too. I was never keen on her when she joined the family. She looked like trying to be a Diana look alike. However now I am a big fan.

Yes Sophie is a really unsung heroine. She does a lot of work for trafficked women etc but it never gets any publicity.

The things Sophie was saying in South Sudan on international women's day 2020 made quite a ripple, but was barely reported here. She's been very plainly spoken on issues concerning wine and girls and the lack of coverage here of that is a shame.

And look his she was pilloried as totally unfit for royal life, following the fake sheikh set up. After which she gave up external employment and went quietly into public duties for Her Maj.

I think she must have taken the Princess Anne approach of working hard for 10 years to learn the ropes and only then speaking out more plainly.

It is a great shame we do not hear more of her charitable work and the causes she has been advocating for quite a while now

Yes I agree.

Another here who thinks a lot of Sophie, both her and Prince Edward had a bit of a blip (work wise) and the media went to town but they both came out the other side and cracked on with their royal roles in a low key way.

Just having a quick look at tomorrow's arrangements and it seems to be reported that the Queen will in fact sit on her own (I know this was discussed up thread and it was thought she would 'bubble up'). Have others read this or is my source dodgy? Feeling more sad about this particular aspect than I am about anything else tbh.

@StormzyinaTCup It’s been reported everywhere that she will travel with her lady in waiting, but will sit alone

She’s obviously not bubbling up yet (or perhaps the rest of the family have been in contact with too many other people?) and has decided to sit alone.

I read that @StormzyinaTCup, seems so sad to be sitting on her own. I assume other families have had to do that at funerals recently too. With the world watching no-one will be able to quietly move their seat closer if they think she needs support.

I cant quite get my head around whether she'll be her usual stoic self, and be strong for the public, or whether she'll be more "human" and get emotional. Perhaps sitting herself will give her more "strength". I personally would be happier for her to be a person mourning her husband, but she has rarely shown this side.
She would obviously be allowed to be in a bubble, so it seems that she has specifically chosen not to.

I can imagine it is quite important for her to sit on her own as many widows have during this pandemic. Even though she could sit as a bubble or just plan get away with doing whatever she likes. She is very much into doing the right thing, setting an example and showing solidarity with the general public. I believe she may well have insisted on doing this. Especially after there being newspaper stories about people having to sit apart from loved ones at funerals.

Even if sitting alone the Queen is hardly going to be far away from her family. She has apparently made the decisions about how it is all done, who does what and where,etc., so must be happy with it. No doubt she'll be glad when it's all over.

Is Peter Philips walking between the brothers to prevent an unseemly punch-up?

I was eg iight be ight order, but it seems not.

It looks as if they have the 3 adult male grandchildren, and have put the oldest in the middle.

There is zero chance that there would be anything unseemly at the funeral of a much loved grandfather

I can understand why and agree that’s probably her choice as there will have been a lot of people this past 12 months who have had to sit on their own when burying a husband/partner etc. when a supportive squeeze of the hand would have been a small comfort.

She must be in a bubble but she is a very wise woman and obviously aware that all public eyes will be on her and the family and naturally they will be jumped on by the media for any Covid ‘slip up’.

I will feel sad for her when I see her sitting there though.

@EdithWeston

I was eg iight be ight order, but it seems not.

It looks as if they have the 3 adult male grandchildren, and have put the oldest in the middle.

There is zero chance that there would be anything unseemly at the funeral of a much loved grandfather

The middle of a three is the most senior

They are walking in age order

Charles and Anne, Andrew and Edward, then the three grandsons

When they get to the chapel and can only walk in in twos Harry will drop back and Peter and William together

@eddiemairswife

Is Peter Philips walking between the brothers to prevent an unseemly punch-up?

Not from what I read from the most recent report (there was much speculation across the board earlier). Peter is the eldest grandchild, William is heir to the heir and he and Harry are the children of the heir to the throne. It's different when they go into the chapel to how it is walking behind the coffin (I firgit the details now but it's on the BBC site). Whatever, the Queen decided on it.

So are they all going to be walking two metres apart in the procession? That would make it quite long (and quite wide!).

Poor queen having to sit on her own, though I expect it will be quite close to other family members behind and around her. I hope for her sake that cameras face away, and that it's all quite short for the public bit. In private, I hope that they do away with the social distancing a bit.

The BBC site that has helpfully put photos of the various attendees has not chosen the best photos of some of the people, and I'm not sure I'd recognise them from that even if I'd wanted to.

I wonder if the Queen will wear a thick black veil as she did when her father died. I can’t remember what she wore when her mother died or PM

I've just googled for pictures of the Queen Mother's funeral

The Queen did not wear a veil

And Princes William and Harry were not next to each other

Goodness the veils 😯
Different times I suppose

Will and Haz do appear to have walked together at the queen mother's funeral. From these photos anyway.

@FlattestWhite

So are they all going to be walking two metres apart in the procession? That would make it quite long (and quite wide!).

Poor queen having to sit on her own, though I expect it will be quite close to other family members behind and around her. I hope for her sake that cameras face away, and that it's all quite short for the public bit. In private, I hope that they do away with the social distancing a bit.

The BBC site that has helpfully put photos of the various attendees has not chosen the best photos of some of the people, and I'm not sure I'd recognise them from that even if I'd wanted to.

They are obviously going to be far enough apart that they can’t fit four people in one row.

Charles and Anne are walking in the front row, then Andrew and Edward behind them. The three grandsons are walking together so there must not be enough space to have four in a line with the required distancing.

That was a lovely service, the lone piper and the 4 choiristers and the lovely personal touches with the carriage and Land Rover.

I hope the royal family and particularly the Queen take comfort that they were able to gave him a less formal funeral service and just the way he wanted it.

The Queen cut a very lonely figure and I noticed that she placed her handbag in the seat next to her which for any formal event prior to today would have been taken by her husband

@Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum

Will and Haz do appear to have walked together at the queen mother's funeral. From these photos anyway.

They and Kate were walking together and talking when they came out of the chapel. That was good, let's hope it's the beginning of the end of the nasty rumours.

You must have a different understanding of “rumours” then. There has clearly been a rift and the Oprah interview publicised it. If they can get over that, well done!

There are several ways the walk back photos will work out well.

Smash any thoughts that it was Will or Kate re skin colour comment.

Help restore Haz to be seen as part of the family. Which is important for his earning potential.

Make some royal commentators and TV presenters look foolish

Totally a win win situation for all parties. Apart from the oblivious lose of a loved one and having to grieve with a camera stuck in your face (Imagine ☹)