Watching the funeral procession

This is definitely a one off in terms of world interest, nanna8.

My grandson (met police) is on duty at St George’s Chapel so I’m a proud granny today.

Oh that’s lovely - I’d be really proud, too.

This feels like the day Great Britain stopped and the world watched. I can't think of anyone else that this would happen for.

Whatever else the British do, their Pageantry is second to none. I loved seeing the Royal Navy march in (takes me back to more happier times in childhood watching my stepdad march in the RN), it almost had a dance quality to it. I am not one for Bagpipes usually but I thought they did ER proud. Even the weather was good for such an occasion.

The precision of it all reflects many hours of training. Every action was so well enacted. Phew! Amazing.

Beautiful occasion - but some people cheering and applauding the coffin in the streets? Such bad taste.

Grandma70s - I completely agree. I said to my husband, it's like the crowd is treating it like any ordinary Royal visit, rather than a solemn funeral.

I had a lump in my throat since the first group formed up at Wellington Barracks. I thought the whole thing was flawless, and a very fitting occasion.

We did wonder though, what happens to all the foreign dignitaries and Heads of State, after the cortege left Westminster Abbey.

Is there a (for want of a better word) a "do" put on? Some kind of reception? Or do they just disperse among the crowds, or go off to their respective embassies?

I was surprised to find on Sunday 11th - 3 days after the death of the Queen was announced - that I'd forgotten to take my cardiac meds altogether! Surprised again when my husband switched on the telly to watch most of the coverage... Then astonished to find tears pouring down my face as I heard the skirl of the bagpipes and saw the gun carriage carrying the Queen's coffin pulled immaculately by all those young sailors. My grandad and both parents were ex RN and I worked for the RN as a civilian social worker too.... I am also half Scottish so, I guess, I was proud of those connections but also so worried that there may be a major terrorist incident to disrupt the proceedings.... I marveled at the courage of ALL those present to attend in whatever way they could as well as the astonishing feat of organisation behind it all. Suddenly, I was proud to be British for the first time in a long time...

The reception is at Buckingham Palace,so we have been told.

No, not bad taste, people wanted to do, to say, to somehow express their emotions as they are accustomed to these days. hence the clapping and shouting.

Other times, other customs.

It was all magnificent - flawless - couldn't have been better. I cried on and off the whole way through, and yes, I felt proud to be British.

Well done to the armed forces and all who took part... also to the police and security services for keeping everyone safe which must have been a big headache.

And well done to those beautiful Royal children, George and Charlotte. Such a credit to their parents.

M0nica

No, not bad taste, people wanted to do, to say, to somehow express their emotions as they are accustomed to these days. hence the clapping and shouting.

Other times, other customs.

Agreed. I feel the same as you.

The clapping is a tradition which has come over from the continent.

The organisation, the precise, seamless flow to the procession and funeral was something we should be proud of. Fitting for a queen who carried out her duty as she saw fit with dedication and dignity.

I agree M0nica, different times, different responses.

It was, indeed, flawless. Beautifully choreographed. Even the weather behaved itself. Hats off to the police and the military of all nations, but particularly to the Royal Navy today. I know there will be howls of disapproval, but I can’t bear the bagpipes. But today, nothing else but the music from the massed pipes would have fitted the bill. It consolidated my grief for my old soldier, and for my monarch.

So relieved to be back on Gransnet. Just been over on Mumsnet and can’t believe the rubbish I have been reading. It seems there are posters there who are only concerned about making the funeral a sexist issue. Also apparently it is too military !!!!Another who thought the Queen should be put in the ground without the processions passing certain places of significance. Another saw Princess Anne’s position with her siblings as a sexist stance. I suppose they are younger than us but they left me gobsmacked with their ignorance.

It was so wonderfully done, I thought the Queen would be very happy indeed and proud that the services had done so well.What a State occasion it was! I watched it all.

Prentice

It was so wonderfully done, I thought the Queen would be very happy indeed and proud that the services had done so well.What a State occasion it was! I watched it all.

It is still going on. You haven’t watched it all yet. She isn’t home yet.

I thought it was all impeccable and I felt very proud to be British. Well, it’s still impeccable as it’s now the next stage of the proceedings, en route to Windsor. I’m not so sure about the clapping and cheering either - I remember that happening at Princess Diana’s funeral. Clapping and cheering doesn’t seem an appropriate response to my mind - maybe I’m too much of a traditionalist though.

I think the overspilling of emotion sometimes leads to spontaneous applause. Disrespectful? Most certainly not. Would anyone line the roads for hours just to be disrespectful? Not in my opinion. I have the utmost respect for them.

NotAGran I watched all the ceremony that took place in London, which was the important part, pageant wise.

I think it is the younger ones who do tend to cheer and clap.

Each to their own regarding the clapping,it`s not for me tbh.
I feel very proud to be British and i love our traditions as do most of the world.
A wonderful send off for a wondeful lady.
I have to say though,when i saw Prince George and Princess Charlotte it realy did get to me.