Will the children go to the funeral?

[bestbefore]

It's often a topic on MN but what do we think about the smaller great-grandchildren attending the Queens funeral? Always a personal choice for parents but this seems so different to a normal GP funeral, I wondered if there was an official etiquette?

I wondered if they might be there but somehow not filmed (don't know how practical that is) or whether they just wouldn't go?

[TheKingsInk]

Why would they be exempt from being filmed? Doubt the youngest will go the funeral will be hours long.

[Halfarsedjingler]

Mum guess is no, I like to think they may have had a private family ceremony for the family last night in Buckingham Palace which maybe they attended. I hope so they need a chance to grieve and say goodbye away from the cameras

[BlueRidge]

Maybe they'll have a "real" funeral "just for them" three days before the "spectacle for the world."

[PuttingDownRoots]

I hope for their sakes that none of the great grandchildren are there. The youngest grandchild is 14, eldest great grandchild is 11. That seems a good cut off.

[milveycrohn]

From what I have seen at previous Royal Funerals, the cut off age is about 10 or 11. Younger than that they do not go to funerals.
Obviously, children go to family funerals, and no one has a problem with that.
The Queen's funeral will be a state funeral, and generally considered unsuitable for children.

[JustLyra]

I think we may see a few of the older great-grandchildren. The Phillips girls and potentially George. Especially if the Queens children will all be front row, rather that it being in succession/rank, so none of the children would be.

[Helgadaley]

I'm sure they won't risk Louis attending.

[Luredbyapomegranate]

I’d guess even George will be judged too young, maybe from 11 up.

[choirmumoftwo]

I suspect if they attend anything it will be the private interment at St George's Windsor after the Westminster Abbey service.

[Mrsjayy]

Maybe the older Phillips girls but not the little ones that isn't fair on anybody, I'm sure I read there will be a private thing at Windsor Castle Maybe they will attend that.

[Papyrus]

I think Beatrice and Eugenie attended Diana's funeral when they were about George and Charlotte's ages. But that was 25 years ago and times move on. I would expect to see Peter Phillips' daughters attending.

[Arenanewbie]

I hope they’ve got chance to say good buy as a family and that’s the end of it for great grandchildren. Edward’s son and daughter might appear at some point probably but I absolutely wouldn’t judge them if not. It’s not a family affair at this stage so the expectations are different.

[8misskitty8]

@Helgadaley

I'm sure they won't risk Louis attending.

why ?

[converseandjeans]

I'm sure they won't risk Louis attending.

I thought the same thing. After his cheekiness in the summer I don't think they would want to deal with him messing about. The jubilee was more of a party.

[Libertyqueen]

@PuttingDownRoots

I hope for their sakes that none of the great grandchildren are there. The youngest grandchild is 14, eldest great grandchild is 11. That seems a good cut off.

This

[BlueRidge]

I think it highly unlikely that any of them will attend, with the possible exception of George, as future monarch.
But even that is doubtful on account of his age.

[SausageinaBun]

A lot of the usual options for children at funerals probably won't be available. When my grandparents died each bit if the family were able to make independent decisions, whereas this may have blanket rules. We took our youngest, who was 3 or 4, but she sat with my mil near the door in case she got noisy. That's probably not practical.

[SenecaFallsRedux]

@Arenanewbie

I hope they’ve got chance to say good buy as a family and that’s the end of it for great grandchildren. Edward’s son and daughter might appear at some point probably but I absolutely wouldn’t judge them if not. It’s not a family affair at this stage so the expectations are different.

Both of Edward's children were at the service today. And Louise is an adult. I think they will be at the funeral.

[Kite22]

I hope they don't.

They got it so wrong making the teenage William and Harry parade behind their mother's coffin and on their behalf.

[Dinoteeth]

I think the older great grandchildren may attend the service but I doubt anyone under 18 will be part of the procession.

[mrsfollowill]

I think it may be the done thing that George attends as an heir to the throne- so maybe him and Charlotte will go? Louis, Archie and Lillibet - far too young - just my hunch- no idea really!

[Dinoteeth]

@Kite22

I hope they don't.

They got it so wrong making the teenage William and Harry parade behind their mother's coffin and on their behalf.

In our modern eyes they got it wrong. But Prince Philip had it just as hard aged 16 behind his 25 year old sister, and 3 children, killed in a plane crash.

[CherieBabySpliffUp]

I hope not.

[SenecaFallsRedux]

I think if George and Charlotte go, Princess Anne's older grandchildren should be allowed to go if they want to. These things really do depend on the particular child and what they might be able to handle, which their parents would be in the best position to judge.

[mrsfollowill]

I've just typed a long post out about my own experience and that of my DS and deleted it as I thought it was too rambling!- Long story short- I was over 18 and my own DS was 18 before either of us attended a funeral. I think 13/14 plus is OK - I had a grandparent die when I was 11 - my mum decided my sister and I should not go- it was not suitable and to be fair we spent a lovely day/night with my aunt and uncle on her side (paternal GF funeral)
I also think in a 'normal family' George is too young but I think as a future heir there may be some protocol he needs to be there? We'll see I suppose. Such a sad time for all of them- all the grandchildren present looked very moved today.