This is all rather academic now but getting engaged before you are divorced sounds all wrong somehow. Its surely a matter of basic good manners to wait until you are divorced Whatever the intrigues it still a sad loss of life.
Nonu, I suspect the grief of the two women will only be equal in it's complexity & difficult range of emotions. I just hope they both get the support they need from those who are close & also from those who really understand the traumatic nature of their grief because of the manner of the death & their relationship to him & each other.
Okay I am probably going to be shot down for saying this but here goes........ It is my understanding that Lee Rigby and his wife had permanently separated with a view to being divorced. He obviously had no intention of going back to his wife as he had proposed to his girlfriend and they had become engaged (presumably to be married when he became divorced). Is it not possible that his estranged wife would have had no intention of ever getting back with him and is now (I hate to use this word but I do hope you understand what I mean, I don't mean it literally ) enjoying being a widow? I don't doubt she is very sad at his untimely and tragic death and bless his little boy, but maybe they were parted for good. Who knows? Sorry just a thought.
Probably the fiancée asked the wife whether her presence would be acceptable, given the high-profile nature of the proceedings. She wouldn't have wanted to cause any embarrassment, either for herself or members of his family.
Yes, it was gracious and well done her, but I am appalled that funerals seem to have become invitation events. I am talking about the funeral ceremony, not the wake or whatever family do afterwards.
They did say on the news that the family and his wife had come to an agreement that the 'fiancee' could attend.. very gracious of the wife to put their differences aside for this occasion.
Did she actually invite her though?? It's always been my understanding that anyone can attend a funeral the same as the stranger that wanders in off the street to sit at the back of a wedding. Churches are open to all. I do agree that it's a very delicate situation. If his wife did welcome her presence, then yes she deserves admiration.
Life is messy very often though, isn't it Gaga? The couple were separated and his wife 'hoped' they would reconcile, but in the meantime Lee had begun what was obviously a significant relationship with another woman. I think it demonstrates a generosity of spirit that Mrs. Rigby was able to invite the other woman to the funeral and I applaud her graciousness.
Am I alone in thinking the presence at the funeral of the person referred to by the press as his "fiancee" (and indeed wearing an engagement ring) is disrespectful to his wife and family? So far as I am aware they were not divorced and indeed his wife has said that they were trying to make a go of things. I find it very odd. Had she been described as his girl friend it would seem less so but as a married man, how could he have a fiancee?