Nuala texted me around three to see if I was watching
Of course she knew I would have been.
I found the whole thing rather moving.
It wasn’t grand, I thought, but more beautifully choreographed and the more personal touches such as the use of the land rover and his riding carriage with his gloves left quietly on his seat were simple and powerful reminders of the man.
It makes you proud to be British; no-one does 'ceremony' like the Brits. A wonderful tribute. RIP Philip.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I was impressed
DeleteI'll have fags and a lighter atop my coffin.
ReplyDeleteInside more like
DeleteGive them up now, Mave, and have a few more years to enjoy with your prince. They're not all frogs.
DeleteI incapable of enjoying Princes or attracting them. Fags are cheaper and more readily available 😂
DeleteIt was perfect.
ReplyDeleteYes itvwas
DeleteIt was true to the man. Is the jar on the carriage seat full of sugarr cubes for the horses?
ReplyDeleteWhisky
DeleteVery moving. There's plastic box with fiscal landlords was full of sugar pumps for his Cell ponues. Best coverage of all on Sky with the inimitable and perfect Alistair Bryce
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what you just said.😔
DeleteI have no idea what you just said.😔
Deletefiscal landlords and sugar pumps?
DeleteIs that some new or regional thing?
Cell ponues? Fiscal landlords? Sugar pumps? Is this some new kind of funeral?
DeleteI am glad I am not the only one saying: What?
DeleteFell Ponies . . . sugar lumps . . but I can't translate the fiscal landlords. Yet.
DeleteI live-streamed the ceremony (the globe & mail); quiet, dignified, simple, no drama. the queen looked so fragile, sitting there all by herself.
ReplyDeleteThat was sad
Deletei think it was much more moving than if it has been a grand production. it brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteMe too , it was the kitchen staff and maids lined up against the wall that started me off
DeleteI also watched it live over here. It was dignified, respectful, beautiful and sad. What a life.
ReplyDeleteIt was beautiful wasn't it - and even the weather cooperated!
ReplyDeleteI think everything looks either much better or much worse when viewed from the South of France.
ReplyDeleteI think it was the simplicity of it all.
DeleteThe pomp had gone leaving a quiet dignified service
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DeleteI miss him already.30 years ago I placed a cap,cigarettes,and a can of beer inside my dads coffin,his jeans and a bit of cash just in case there was a pub where he was going x
ReplyDeleteDisappointing that we did not see a fist fight between William and Harry outside St George's Chapel. William did well to restrain himself. It is what Prince Philip would have wanted.
ReplyDeleteThe spat is overblown me thinks
DeleteNot according to "The Sun" and "The Daily Star".
DeleteBeautifully done ..... what a life of service, loyalty and dedication ..... from the distanced military, their shadows evenly spaced across the lawn , to his militaria and racing carriage. It was more poignant being pared down because of the pandemic ..... a long life well lived. XXXX
ReplyDeleteWell described I felt the same
DeleteJohn, it was all so stunning in such a quiet, perfect way on a beautiful sunny day. The castle looked awesome and our Queen fragile and tiny. I pray she manages for more years despite Philip not being at her side.
ReplyDeleteI'm always so proud to be British - even though I haven't live there for so long - and tears still come when 'I Vow to Thee My Country' plays - we sang it so often at school!
The last post was very poignant
DeleteI am watching it now to hear the singing. It is nicely done. I like funeral dirges.
ReplyDeleteThe simple singing of just five was lovely and more personal .I thought
DeleteThe bugles are now on. It is spine-chilling and up-lifting at the same time.
DeleteThe last post made me tear up
DeleteI lost it at the Last Post, all these years away, yet my heart is still in England.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful service, just as he wanted.
Jo
I'm not a fan of the Royals, but I must say it was very sad that the Queen had to sit all by herself with no one to keep her company and comfort her.
ReplyDeleteYes incredibly poignant ...very
DeleteI stayed up and watched until 3am here. A good solid send off. My mum took a cask of wine, a wine glass and some photos in her casket. In my dad's pocket we tucked a comb, hankie and a library card and RSA card and a chalk for his snooker cue.
ReplyDeleteAs my father was buried my brother threw into the grave his membership card to the conservative club
DeleteJust lovely.
ReplyDeleteI thought the carriage was a lovely touch and was moved by the way the handlers of the fell ponies talked to them and constantly stroked them. I doubt they are used to being in such an environment and they did behave well.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that too pat ..
DeleteA beautiful tribute. The well worn leather gloves, hat and flask sitting on the carriage seat is poignant. I wish they had allowed a family member to sit next to the Queen.
ReplyDeleteI lost it when I saw the gloves hat and the plastic red lidded tub that held the ponies sugar lumps. And Prince Charles with the tear running down his face. Gosh lip wobbling here.
ReplyDeleteI watched on You Tube and it was a lovely tribute. The care of the horses was touching as was the presence of the household staff, and the simplicity of the wonderful four voices that sang in St. George's Chapel was perfect. I, too, wish someone had sat next to the Queen to hold her hand.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
SWMBO had the best comment. "They call that a chapel!"
ReplyDeleteHere in US they showed the flowers on the casket a number of times....focused in to what appeared as a cars or something. Does anyone know what that might have been. They did state that the flowers were chosen by the queen. A beautiful, dignified and very personal service. Yes, she looked very frail and so sad she had to sit alone.
ReplyDeleteA card or something among the flowers near the top or the arrangement
DeleteHi Karen, it's a card that the Queen wrote - the contents were kept private (as it should be). A beautiful, dignified send off.
DeleteThat might have been the Queen's private note which accompanied her flowers. Several commentators recognized her personal stationery.
DeleteThank you. I was thinking along those lines. Beautiful.
DeleteJust such a touching ceremony.........so many symbolic moments in remembering his life.
Thank you. I was thinking along those lines. Beautiful.
DeleteJust such a touching ceremony.........so many symbolic moments in remembering his life.
Thank you. I was thinking along those lines. Beautiful.
DeleteJust such a touching ceremony.........so many symbolic moments in remembering his life.
I didn't get to see it, but I should be able to find it somewhere--maybe BritBox.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
It's how all funerals should be. The most moving part was the Highland piper leaving but still playing until it was just a whisper.
ReplyDeleteI agree, The sight of him walking towards the open door and the sound slowly fading as he went through it was very moving. The lament was Flowers of the Forest. It was played at my father's funeral.
DeleteI watched the funeral live I found it to be more moving and dignified without all the eulogies I think the choices of the readings and the singing of the choir, the piper and just family together made it more human somehow, also easier on the grieving family they deserved this private time better than having to shake hands and listen to speeches from world leaders and people in power.
ReplyDeleteSacrilege for some, I know, but I really did find the service itself over-long and thoroughly boring- but maybe because I was expecting it, because of circumstances, to have been significantly curtailed. However, I do realise that it had been programmed by the Duke himself, so who am I to complain? But in the event I spent most of the time playing on my laptop, the occasional pang of sadness notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteI watched live from Australia at midnight and went through half a box of tissues. 😢
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a moving and dignified service. The music was beautiful and I wish my funeral could be so wonderful! I need to go buy more tissues for my house as I think I used them all.
ReplyDelete