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The royal family
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Who advised the Queen to walk into the Abbey escorted by Andrew??

996 replies

TinyTortoise · 29/03/2022 13:07

This seems to be the most tone deaf and damaging decision. It's a public facing event with international leaders and royals. If it was a closed family gathering I could understand it - he is her son still- but why on earth would they allow him to escort her to her seat?! He should be invisible from now on and never represent the RF again. He could have attended and stood somewhere out of the way. She could have chosen anyone to escort her. It's staggeringly awful!

OP posts:
OutTheOtherSideAndBeyond · 29/03/2022 21:35

Absolutely Grasping. She made it to her late husband’s memorial in poor health, her son assisted at his dad’s memorial.

Andrew’s participation was downgraded massively thankfully. Today wasn’t about anyone other than DOE and HMQ for a lot of people, me included.

He’s her son, they’re family, he’s an arrogant swine amongst other things, his arrogance shone out even today, but if HMQ drew comfort from him being there that’s ok.

Lots of people endured funerals during COVID, but not with the world watching (and with the grace to turn down waiving the rules to allow HMQ exemptions).

Blossomtoes · 29/03/2022 21:46

@PurpleDaisies

I think Andrew must have joined mumsnet. I can’t believe all the posts defending him.
There aren’t any.
worraletdown · 29/03/2022 21:49

I presume it was her own choice, and probably a swan-song appearance for her, so what did she personally have to lose.

Blossomtoes · 29/03/2022 21:53

That is so not true, it's slanderous. I know that for a fact. He was highly regarded by his fellow servicemen/people

It’s not slanderous @LBFseBrom. My bloke was in the Falklands - medal and rosette - nobody who was there has a good word to say about Andrew. What they do say is that he’s an arrogant tosser and the idea of him being a war hero is laughable.

worraletdown · 29/03/2022 22:03

Was she trying to encourage the public to consider forgiveness/have mercy for him before she dies?

I suspect not. I think it was a message - He's my favourite no matter what, and as I'm fading I'll finally do what pleases me.

upinaballoon · 29/03/2022 22:13

The point is it looks appalling to the public and rest of the world ( I bet Putin and Zelensky were glued to the transmission) and will be yet another poor choice which damages the monarchy paving the way for Her Maj to be the last, or at least the penultimate monarch.

And if her choice today does put paid to the monarchy, OP, will you be very concerned and sad it's gone or will you go out on the streets waving pro-republican banners, and when you are old will you say to young people, "Ah, I knew she'd shot the whole family in the feet that 29th March when she walked into church on Prince Andrew's arm?"

LBFseBrom · 29/03/2022 22:18

I haven't heard people in real life being upset about it. What's the point? It's happened, it was a brief moment in time and it was the obvious thing to do as Andrew is the only she child she has without a partner.

ancientgran · 29/03/2022 22:21

@Blossomtoes

That is so not true, it's slanderous. I know that for a fact. He was highly regarded by his fellow servicemen/people

It’s not slanderous @LBFseBrom. My bloke was in the Falklands - medal and rosette - nobody who was there has a good word to say about Andrew. What they do say is that he’s an arrogant tosser and the idea of him being a war hero is laughable.

You've asked them all then?
lovescats3 · 29/03/2022 22:26

I liked the monarchy and the queen but the whole business with Andrew put me off and then William's tour of the Carribbean - they are either badly advised,out of touch with reality or don't give a shit or all 3; either way they need to get a grip or will struggle to maintain the public's good opinion

lovescats3 · 29/03/2022 22:28

If they think today was paving the way to bring Andrew back into public life they have list the plot

ancientgran · 29/03/2022 22:29

@PurpleDaisies

She had to do her husbands funeral alone. Nothing wrong with her family being at the service.

It’s not him being there. It’s him having such a visible role given what’s just happened.

I assume he hasn't mastered being invisible. Maybe ban the cameras?
ididntevennotice · 29/03/2022 22:29

I haven't heard people in real life being upset about it.

I don't think that matters. Every single person on this thread exists in real life.

PurpleDaisies · 29/03/2022 22:32

I assume he hasn't mastered being invisible. Maybe ban the cameras?

Come on. You know that he could have walked in alone. Sat out of the way. Not been arm in arm with the queen. It’s disingenuous to pretend this was the only option for him to attend today.

Having a private service with no cameras would have been one thing they could do.

ancientgran · 29/03/2022 22:34

@SpinningTheSeedsOfLove

If you were accused of something would you wish to be tried by media or by the court? I know which I’d prefer.

But he didn't go to court. He avoided court. To the tune of £12 million.

That goes both ways, she avoided court as well because she accepted however much she got. I don't know if it was £12m.
PurpleDaisies · 29/03/2022 22:35

I haven't heard people in real life being upset about it.

Two of tomorrow’s front pages

Who advised the Queen to walk into the Abbey escorted by Andrew??
Who advised the Queen to walk into the Abbey escorted by Andrew??
ancientgran · 29/03/2022 22:35

@PurpleDaisies

I assume he hasn't mastered being invisible. Maybe ban the cameras?

Come on. You know that he could have walked in alone. Sat out of the way. Not been arm in arm with the queen. It’s disingenuous to pretend this was the only option for him to attend today.

Having a private service with no cameras would have been one thing they could do.

I think there would have been more focus on him. Every camera would have been hunting him out.
PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/03/2022 22:36

[quote Snog]@BadgerB surely the difference here is that Prince Charles will become HEAD of the Church of England, which is quite different to being a member of the Church of England and surely involves a higher expected standard of behaviour? Would you be happy with Prince Andrew as head of the church?[/quote]
I'm not sure he will actually — I think Prince Charles would like to be be "Defender of the Faiths", not "the Faith".

PurpleDaisies · 29/03/2022 22:36

I think there would have been more focus on him. Every camera would have been hunting him out.

More focus than him walking in with the queen? You honestly believe that?

worraletdown · 29/03/2022 22:39

I'm not sure he will actually — I think Prince Charles would like to be be "Defender of the Faiths", not "the Faith".

I believe it's been confirmed that it was an ideas but Charles will be defender of the faith.

smilesy · 29/03/2022 22:41

Having a private service with no cameras would have been one thing they could do.

But it was meant to be a public service of memorial and a celebration of the DofE’s life for the Nation and his charities. It would have been difficult to do that without it being televised.

Blossomtoes · 29/03/2022 22:42

@PurpleDaisies

I think there would have been more focus on him. Every camera would have been hunting him out.

More focus than him walking in with the queen? You honestly believe that?

I watched it. You barely saw him. Last to arrive, first to leave and no close ups. He was as close to invisible as it’s possible to get. The bottom line is that whatever had happened there would have been criticism. They couldn’t win.
ancientgran · 29/03/2022 22:43

@Livingtothefull

What do you think it looks like to have our Head of State showing public support for a person who has been accused of sex crimes against underage girls, and potentially escaped justice through his family paying off his accuser?

I don't agree that it is only up to the Queen who she has support her at the memorial; the fact is, this is a public facing occasion and she is Head of State. I don't think most people would begrudge Andrew attending his father's memorial provided he keeps a low profile..you would think he himself would know to do that. But giving him such a prominent role just looks unbelievably arrogant and reflects very poorly on them all.

Well as Head of a Christian Church that preaches forgiveness, redemption and love it looks like she practices what she preaches.

I have to confess I don't always manage it, I tend to hold a grudge but I know it doesn't fit with my religion.

valerianaofficiana · 29/03/2022 22:44

HM is his mother. It was his father's memorial service.
Give over.

ididntevennotice · 29/03/2022 22:46

I watched it. You barely saw him. Last to arrive, first to leave and no close ups. He was as close to invisible as it’s possible to get.

Yet it's front page news for tomorrow - he wasn't invisible.

ancientgran · 29/03/2022 22:46

@worraletdown

I'm not sure he will actually — I think Prince Charles would like to be be "Defender of the Faiths", not "the Faith".

I believe it's been confirmed that it was an ideas but Charles will be defender of the faith.

Yes, hiding in plain sight. He was with the Queen, she was the central figure. Going hunting for him would have taken the focus off her.

Having said that I haven't watched it, I'm going on what people are saying on here. I don't generally watch things about royals but I daresay I will see some of it on the news or something.