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?

I think this. I would like to think they will draw the line at Viscount Severn, who is old enough to make an informed decision. He and Lady Louise are part of the GC vigil on Saturday morning and it’s being reported they were adamant they wanted to be part of it.

The others are all too young. It’s not anything like a standard funeral so you can’t compare to what any of us would do with our own families.

It think it will be GC only at the public bits and GGC at the private family bit at Windsor (which is after the public but at Windsor).

There is absolutely no reason for George not to attend. I fully expect him to be there

He is under ten, and it's going to be screened globally and will be massive

I hope he isn't there.

It's a very public funeral, not his first day at school. You can "expect" all you like, but it's not your call to make. If his parents truly cared about him then they'll keep him away from it.

If his parents truly cared about him then they'll keep him away from it

I agree that it’s entirely up to his parents & it’s no-one else’s business. Only they will know whether he is up to the occasion & whether he will benefit from going, or not.

There was a family gathering at Buckingham Palace when the Queen returned there, for family members to pay their respects privately. The great grandchildren, or those who are old enough to understand, may have been there. And perhaps others who may be unable to appear at the public events - I don't think weve seen Princess Alexandra, have we?

Princess Alexandra was in the group of family waiting at Westminster Hall.

There is absolutely no reason that I can think of for George not to attend. I fully expect him to be there but thankfully they aren't relying on my opinion

I'm guessing this is what you meant?

I can think of lots of reasons include the fact he is a child under 10 for him not to be there.

He may attend the private family service later. That's a family decision to make.

Princess Alexandra was in the group of family waiting at Westminster Hall.

Oh, I missed her. Must watch again and pause it to have a closer look.

I only saw the photos of her leaving. I think she’s with Julia Ogilvy, but I’m not 100% as you can’t see her face for her hat, just Alexandra’s

There is a private committal at 7pm on Monday in St Georges Chapel I think that is where the younger ones will be to say their goodbyes

He is under 10 and it will be a very long service which is being filmed. No child should have to sit through the funeral of a loved one with cameras trained on them, which they would be.

He is a little boy and should be allowed to stay home, and just attend the private memorial with his family, out of the public gaze.

There is a private committal at 7pm on Monday in St Georges Chapel I think that is where the younger ones will be to say their goodbyes

Several of the great-grandchildren were at Westminster Hall with other family members this evening watching the King and his siblings standing vigil. Not Kate and the Wales children, at least I did't see them. I suppose they'll be there tomorrow for the grandchildren's vigil.

I found it bad enough that their were close up photographs of lady Louise and her brother in Scotland, focused in their faces and clearly showing her upset with tears. I didn't follow the link from twitter but no doubt there were plenty more.

I wouldn't trust the media not to do the same to George, even despite his young age.

I think they’ve already said that Catherine and Meghan won’t be there tomorrow, so no chance of the children being there if that’s accurate

I'd be astounded if George is allowed to miss the funeral (by allowed I mean by the Palace/courtiers).

William and Kate are the parents but they are not private citizens, they are Royals, and as Royals they do not have much say over their own lives and how they raise Royal children. George is the future heir and that brings with it many responsibilities and obligations.

The most crucial element of the BRF is tradition and constancy, and the sense of lineage. That's why the transition from Queen to King has to be instantaneous. George as future monarch has to be present at the funeral of the former monarch to maintain that appearance of lineage, duty and tradition. George is not a regular child he's a future monarch and is being groomed to be a monarch and that means getting used to long ceremonial events.

The only way he'll be excused if is the Palace decides it's bad optics for a child that young but I really doubt that. Are the Palace in touch with modern thinking to even be aware of the optics? Certainly the well-being of the child won't come into it at all, when has that ever been a factor? William and Harry were made to do that long public walk behind their own mother's coffin while still so young to provide the British public with the show they wanted. Duty above all things always.

Lots of royal kids dressed in black at the vigil of the coffin tonight…..Zara’s middle one looked the youngest ( about 3 years?)

Bloody hell. I bet you’re my MIL bleating on about it being protocol and expected and thought it was fine for him to wear a suit in 35’ heat in Wimbledon

Lots of royal kids dressed in black at the vigil of the coffin tonight…..Zara’s middle one looked the youngest ( about 3 years?)

Does anyone know who were the little girl and boy standing next to the Phillips girls? I couldn't place them, and couldn't make out which adults they were with.

I would be really surprised if George isn’t there, given the amount of events he now goes to. Charlotte is less than 2 years younger but always seems so mature so before reading these comments I had thought both would be there, now thinking just George

From a little reading around online I think there is a little girl on her own who is Maud Windsor the granddaughter of Prince Michael of Kent, and then the boy and girl are Rufus and Lyla Gilman the grandchildren of the Duke of Gloucester.

You fully expect a young boy of 9 to be paraded about in front of millions at the funeral of someone he loved? Ok then.

I hope his parents make the right decision for him (and that might be that he attends) and not those who seem to think he should be paraded for public view just because he's the heir.

If it was a normal family funeral then I'd say most of the great grandchildren could be there if they wanted to but this isn't a normal family funeral . If a normal 96 year old with a large family passed away while of course it would be very sad it would be very much a celebration of her life and not overly sombre. It will be very long and there will be tv cameras there so their every move will be scrutinised. We were at my late mil's anniversary mass last week and the three year old was poking her dad in the back all the way through (he was sitting in front) but other than that mine were fine even the autistic seven year old sat quietly but this was 40 mins in a relaxed setting I'd have sweat pouring out of me if I was to bring them to something like the queens funeral and my three are more or less the same age as William and Kate's. I think they will all go to the private ceremony afterwards. I'd say that will be the family event with the pressure off them and no cameras.

I really hope none of the children are there. It is far, far too long a ceremony for George and the others. It's really not appropriate for children.