HRH The Prince Philip Funeral

[IamnotH]

Watching on BBC 1. Wish Huw would shut up and let us listen to the bands/watch them March.

In some ways his death is possibly going to be even harder than before.

previously they were both busy, he was at Sandringham a lot and she was at Windsor a lot, but for the last year they've been together every single day except when he was in hospital.

My DH was widowed when we met and he once said one of the cruel things about his wife's death was that they spent 24/7 together for many months, when normally they both worked away for periods previously. So they spent more time together than ever, he got used to her being there all the time, and then she was taken away completely and forever.

@Abraxan

Her and Prince Phillip didn't live together in the traditional sense for a long time. It's not like my Nan and grandad who were joined at the hip

At the very least they'd spent the last year in one another's bubble.
Whilst their relationship may not have been as your grandparents was I'd imagine they were very close to one another and held one another in love and affection. It certainly came across that way. We

I agree. I also think there’s a dimension to their marriage that very few people will ever really understand. The Queen has very few (if any) people who can converse with her as an equal, regardless of their physical location, Prince Phillip was her confidente in ways I don’t think anyone else will truly understand.

He retired to Sandringham as his base but they have lived together at Windsor for the last year.

I was quite shocked at how frail the Queen looked walking in. She has always walked firmly, back straight, no hesitation. This is the first time I have seen her and thought that she looked like an elderly lady. And Charles just looks broken, so sad for them

I agree. It was very upsetting. The Queen looked as if she’d shrunk and appeared unsteady when she entered the Church.

It was also very sad to see a man in his 70’s crying because his dad had died.

I am actually amazed that anyone could describe that funeral as ‘cold’

So am I, but I suppose it's what each person's used to. If you're a member of a more "progressive" church - or even none at all - the CofE in all its might can perhaps seem a bit much, but anyway it's what he wanted so fair enough

Did anyone else notice that the last choral piece before his commital was Russian? Presumably it was a nod to his Romanov links, which I thought quite nice

I was much more moved by this than I expected.

I think the very emptiness of the cathedral gave the service a dignity and a dept of meaning that would have been totally absent from a "bells and whistles" state funeral.

And I felt for Prince Charles - obviously very, very much feeling the loss of his father.

Did anyone see the coffin go into the vault? I was puzzled as it suddenly disappeared then I realised it had gone down !! Not sure if it was shown

They showed the first slow lowering of the coffin, but the final "disappearance" was kept private - rightly, IMO, since that may well have been the hardest part of all for the family

I was reading that the coffin is lead lined so incredibly heavy, the men who carried it up those stairs and then held it for the minutes silence are amazing! I didn't get to watch it all but I was crying when they brought the coffin out to put it in the Land Rover!

You don’t need to live with someone 24/7 to have a close and intimate bond. He was one of very few people, possibly the only person with whom the Queen could be completely honest and open. The only person she could utterly rely on and trust, who would be honest with her and who would never break a confidence. Neither of them ever had to deal with the day to day detritus that the rest of us have to deal with, I suspect it gave them the freedom for their relationship to be on a different level , a completely different kind of relationship to the one that most of us have with our life partners. Their lives were completely unique, in many ways the ultimate power couple.

@JaniieJones

'If I was Harry i would be on the plane ASAP. He's done what he came back to do. It'ts true though that whatever he does it will be wrong.'

Oh you'd hope he'd at least wait until Sunday, maybe have a garden catch up with his family.

He could have done that already I suppose. I think he should go back to Meghan asap now

It’s only a temporary resting place. His coffin is being moved when the Queen dies and they bring interred together in the family vault. Or so I’ve read.

@mateysmum I vow to thee my country also has me in bits especially today, very fitting music for him too.

Simple, dignified and appropriate.

Gayle king and Omid Scobie - managed to make their commentary about Meghan - for once, this had nothing to do with her or Harry or anyone else. Can you please stop trying to make her central t every Royal event.
Yes his children were upset - who isn't at their fathers funeral at any age - some remarkably asinine comments being made but the ceremony - perfect.

'He could have done that already I suppose'

I think his quarantine period only ended Fri. Be the perfect opportunity to have a small gathering in one of their many gardens. Can't see him coming back anytime soon.

'Gayle king and Omid Scobie'

They're a right gossipy pair. Ugh.

JayAlfredPrufrock there's a family vault already at St George's chapel - some previous monarchs are already in it, including George VI, though whether the Queen has something else planned I don't know

@LemonViolet

I didn’t see Charles & Camilla or Anne & Tim walking, they were probably in a car, and the Queen’s cousins are all elderly and probably wouldn’t walk either.

It’s quite the hill so I don’t blame them

Did they just say on the BBC that the walking back wasn't planned

Princess Anne could be seen waving the cars away.

@Justmuddlingalong

I'm waiting for the media to twist things. ie Harry, William and Kate have a wonderful relationship when Meghan isn't there to cause problems.

I really really hope not .

Am a bit stunned anyone could describe this afternoon as ghastly/cold/nasty! We’re all entitled to our own opinions but really, posting that today, have you never heard “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything”. It was incredibly personal, he designed his own hearse, his favourite horses stood vigil with his cap & gloves on the carriage seat, he chose all the hymns to be sung, he specifically didn’t want a eulogy, there were many specific nods to his naval background such as the ships whistles, last post etc, and the only attendees were his family. You couldn’t get more personal for our monarch’s consort, shy of it not being televised, but I think he probably was fine with that. He was the one that orchestrated the coronation being televised and pushed for the monarchy to keep up with the times.

And the Queen is going to stay at Windsor permanently, no more Buckingham Palace. I read that, no idea if it's right or not.
I think she is probably incredibly close to her chief lady in waiting, 50 years plus together

@Puzzledandpissedoff

JayAlfredPrufrock there's a family vault already at St George's chapel - some previous monarchs are already in it, including George VI, though whether the Queen has something else planned I don't know

When the Queen dies he'll be moved into the George VI memorial chapel. It's a small chapel with just enough space for their two coffins alongside those of King George VI and QEQM. Princess Margaret chose to be cremated so that her ashes could be fitted in alongside them.

@JanFebAnyMonth

Yes was thinking it was a little unfair that they showed us not a jot of the representatives of his birth family!

BBC news just pointed out that “Long live our noble queen” was a rather pointed/poignant (not sure which) lyric!

Photos of them in cars are on line.

@JaniieJones

'He could have done that already I suppose'

I think his quarantine period only ended Fri. Be the perfect opportunity to have a small gathering in one of their many gardens. Can't see him coming back anytime soon.

Yes, he could have done it yesterday/last night or this morning even. I just feel that he's done whatever is necessary and he should go back. I guess we'll see one way or another today or tomorrow.

Prince Charles and Camilla did walk up the hill they were just a bit in front , PC was wiping his face with his hankie , also with Anne and Tim and Harry was chatting with Kate and William . Eugenie seemed to be struggling with her shoes.