James Viscount Severn

[RoachTheHorse]

He looks so so young standing vigil. That must be hard.

Yes and here he had his parents clearly watching to make sure he was ok and I thought they did it well so the youngest two were in the middle

I think it was his choice. I just wanted to give him a hug though

also there are 26 years between me and my youngest cousin so it’s not that unusual

I think he did admirably. There was a beautiful symmetry in the grandchildren.

I hope it was something he wanted to do rather than feeling pressured, I hope it was as Edward/Sophie don’t seem the type to force him.

I know if I was his age I would have wanted to do this and it’s the type of thing that I’d have regretted not doing, even if it was uncomfortable at the time.

I think it's fine if he chose to do it. I've realised from the discussions on mumsnet recently around the Queen that Brits can be quite repressed and hands off when it comes to death. It's really normal in lots of cultures for children to have involved roles in funerals and other 'rituals' surrounding death. It doesn't have to be traumatising. It can be a really positive thing and help them come to terms with the death of a loved one and know that they played a part in honouring them.

I am sure he wasn't made to do it and would imagine he was very proud to be involved with his cousins.

DD2 was 14 when my DM died and she actually did one of the eulogies at the funeral along with my older DD(17) and uncle. A poignant but very proud memory.

This whole thing is mental. Verging on sinister.

Who was the chap stoop behind Sophie? He looked lovely

I teach teenagers and the death of a grandparent is very different to the death of a parent. I'm sure that his parents had prepared him for the fact his grandma would not live forever, and the death of his grandad last year would have reminded him of this. He's also likely to have many school friends who have also lost grandparents and have done special things to honour them (readings etc), and although this is more public due to who his grandma is he may feel this is his special thing to do. From what I've read it seems he and his sister were adamant they were participating.

I'd also say that although public it is a fairly safe environment in that no one is going to shout anything. There has been no suggestion of him walking in any procession, even though his male cousins are, so I think his parents are being very careful as to what they expose him to.

I think 14 is fine, age-wise, to do what he did today. He was surrounded by family and I expect he would want to be part of it all and pay tribute to his granny.
He's 14, not 8.

Not normally in front of millions of people watching on TV though, eh?

I expect he would have been counselled as to how to tune out the cameras.

God love him. I bet his mum and dad were holding their breath the whole time and swept him up in the biggest hug when it was over.

It was remarkable to see them all together in that way with no other senior royals. It did have echos of the boys at Diana's funeral, but the grief is different this time, and we are watching a different context.

Would the reason William walked ahead of Harry been precedence? I am hoping that they can at least stand beside each other now - obviously they did a few days ago.

This , his mum and dad must have been so proud of him.and his sister

I don't think for one minute his parents would have let him do this if he didn't want to. 14 might be young, but it's not 4 is it? My 14 year old would want to do it and I wouldn't want to stop him.

Sophie appears to be a very loving, caring woman. I doubt James would have been forced into anything. If all of his elder cousins were standing vigil it makes sense he would probably have chosen to do it. 14 is still very young but old enough to make such a decision.

He might want to? My son is almost 14 and would want to.

Yes I expect they gave him the choice, and he wanted to do it, which is admirable. I have read that he finds aspects of public life more difficult than some, so to be able to cope with that and his grief at the same time takes huge bravery. I"m sure they were watching closely to be able to support him if needed. I don't know how close the younger two are to their other cousins, but I'm sure they'd have looked after them as much as they could

Well said although it's more an English thing. I think the Scots and the Irish are more comfortable with funerals and the rituals of death/burial.

What a vile, horrible (and inaccurate) comment. Be ashamed.

Yes, that's why the Phillipses were last.

The public, just gawping at them. Very strange.

I thought perhaps it was more to make sure Louise and James didn't have to be on the end, so that they'd not be first or last ever.

James is 14. Peter is 44. A 30 year age gap between the Queens eldest and youngest grandchild.

charles was born 48 and Edward 64, so a good 16 years between oldest & youngest sibling

Seeing Sophie’s face during that is the first time I’ve got emotional during all this. It was raw grief- and the look that only a mother has when their child is suffering. It all felt like a heart breaking intrusion into the most private moments of a real person, and why I’m not watching much of this coverage.