The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

[Fran_Benson]

For many of us today, our thoughts will be on the funeral of the Queen. We know that many of you will want to share your thoughts on this or your own feelings of grief that recent events will have brought up for you. Please use this thread as a place to do this to keep other posts focused on PMR and GCA. Thank you.

[Koalajane]

thanks Fran.

Just settling down to watch the Funeral of a wonderful lady, Queen Elizabeth II

[Fran_Benson Partner]

Message from @Kiwisufferer2019:

Just watching the farewell, to our amazing Queen, the like of which we will never see again in our lifetime, her dedication and service to the Nation and Comonwealth has been her life's commitment. RIP Your Majesty. From the other side of the world.

[Kendrew]

Very simply:-

"Thankyou ma'am..... for everything "

[jinasc]

RIP in

Peace

[Bridge31 in reply to jinasc]

My Mum’s favourite rose 💕

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

What a memorable day, a fantastic goodbye and heartfelt thank you from so many to our late Queen.

Full of colour, love, sadness and ceremonial pomp -what a day for all those service personnel involved to remember - thank you for completing your last duty to ‘the boss’ with such pride and professionalism. I’m sure she would have been proud and pleased.

My daughter (watching in NZ) on seeing coffin messaged me and said - “can you remember helping me make a crown just like that”…. Yes I can, it was for The Queen’s Silver Jubilee - it perhaps wasn’t quite like the original (but certainly purple)…but obviously good enough for a 10 year old to remember .and a lovely memory for both of us, so far apart.

Thank you, Ma’am

ER

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

My high points: The image of the Forces giving her a hug as they surrounded the gun carriage so closely was mindblowing I thought. And the Long Walk the same. The look of terror on those two men's faces as they took the sceptre, orb and crown from the Crown jeweller, And Charles looking utterly bereft.

Oh - and the Sky News commentator explaining the removal of the orb, sceptre and Crown and the breaking of the rod: so that Elizabeth goes to her grave as an ordinary Christian soul.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Totally agree, the sights from Windsor just said it all….and yes he did look absolutely devastated.

They must all be shattered after such a long day….and a lot of walking for people who are no longer in their youth.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Thought Kent (?) looked very wobbly. I just wanted to give Charles a hug. Someone commented that Camilla hasn't left his side - so glad he has her.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes Duke of Kent - been a bit wobbly for some time…..and Camilla is obviously Charles’ rock…..

…I was okay, until the Last Post in the Abbey (too many Remembrance Services with OH)…and the coffin lowering in St George’s Chapel….

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

Also Camilla broke her toe a few days ago, she must be in agony.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Gosh - didn't know that. Ouch!

[Miacaro45 in reply to piglette]

I did not know this. She looked in such distress.

[Rose54 in reply to PMRpro]

I cried most of the day it was all so moving a amazing women.

[Bridge31 in reply to PMRpro]

The look on the faces of those young pallbearers. Such a responsibility for them.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bridge31]

Yes it was -and not just once - they looked after her brilliantly -they and their families should be so proud.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Was it the same team each time? It was the tiny group amongst the Navy team pulling the gun carriage that made me laugh - they were a foot shorter than any of the others. Were they cadets?

[jinasc in reply to PMRpro]

Yes they were.....................

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

no, they were all regular ratings, only officers were those giving the orders…some were very young, though, & only been in about six weeks! In my Navy service the most marching I did was in the first three months, so that’s when you’re good at it! Plus it’s hard to pull people from jobs, easier to take people from training establishments! We have 32 years of Royal Navy service between OH & myself (ha ha, he served for 27 years, I served for 4, then left on marriage)! That question came up through a Royal Navy veterans & current serving, that’s why I know the answer. Hopefully, for your interest, normally on the hats it would give the shore establishment or ship you are currently serving on eg HMS Warrior (shore establishment I was at) or HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier), but special cap tallies were made for this with Royal Navy on them! Nobody knew if they can keep them for life, but that will be a very big momento for those people,& a rarity to own! End of blurb. We watched from morning to night, & thought it was simply amazing, but then so was our Queen…& I thank her for everything she did, & how devoted & lovely she was! A hard act to follow, especially at 73. S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

I know a bit about the hats and their labels - OH joined the Wavy Navy for a while when we were in Scotland but then work got in the way. That view of the gun carriage as it was pulled away from Westminster was fantastic as they all sort of cosied in around her.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Same ones - apparently only back from overseas duty a few days before.

RN gun carriage - Mainly newbies I think.

[cycli in reply to Bridge31]

I've put large sheets of lead on a roof so I know how much that lead lined coffin must have weighed and they made it look effortless.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

The way it appeared to float upwards was something else!

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

When the gun carriage emerged, I also saw the forces as a huge sea of arms embracing her. The men who weren't holding the ropes were holding hands as if to form an unbreakable seal of protection around her.

I cried at several points during the days proceedings, but seeing the immense sadness and distress on King Charles face and the obvious tears in his eyes when the congregation sang God Save Our Gracious King after the committal was completely heartbreaking.

[Lonsdalelass in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for sharing this photo DL.

[HeronNS]

The main coverage started at 7 a.m. in my time zone. Yes, was up to watch, but also recording. Took 90 minute break to have walk and get my "Fall dose" - bivalent Moderna. Seven hours later and we are still receiving royal coverage!

I feel that public ceremonies like this are more than just the funeral of an important person. The individual, in this case the Queen, is also a surrogate for the emotions of the people. It gives us permission, if we need it, to lament those who have left our lives, no matter how long ago and how the world believes you must surely be over it by now. We never get over the loss of a loved one.

Requiescat in pace, Elizabeth II, dei gratia regina.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to HeronNS]

As she said “Grief is the price we pay for love”…first after 9/11, then again when Prince Philip died.

[cycli in reply to HeronNS]

So true heron. I was finally able to grieve for my mother 40 years ago.

[AyJayBass in reply to HeronNS]

Amen

[5lupins]

A beautiful day. So lovely to see people from all over our troubled world coming together to show their love and respect. Hopefully some long term good will happen.

Two years this week since my John died so very emotional for me.

[123-go in reply to 5lupins]

I am sorry for your loss, 5lupins and can understand how emotional the day must have been for you. Yesterday's funeral to honour not only a lifetime of dedicated service but also a mother, grandmother and friend will have struck a chord in the hearts of many who have been recently bereaved. The children's behaviour was exemplary. It doesn't bear thinking about what may have taken place if the Queen's death had occurred during the height of the pandemic but it didn't and the world will be thankful.

We lost 3 close dear relatives during lockdowns-none Covid related; we weren't able attend one because of the size of the family (number restrictions) and weren't able to be present at the wakes of two because of the disease for which this forum exists. My husband went alone to the packed funeral of a long-time friend but stood outside where the service was being streamed on a screen and came home straight afterwards to protect me. Today is the funeral of a dear, lifelong friend and it will be a difficult day.

I apologise for making this personal.

Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth.🌹

[Octi]

We decided against going into central London, and instead went to say goodbye to Her Majesty as she was being driven to Windsor. A very emotional experience and one I’ll never forget 😢

The Queen passing by Heathrow.

[Slowdown]

The lone piper slow-marching from the Windsor Chapel, towards the open door and the light, music gently fading - I can't even write this without a few tears.

And today is the next day for our country without her grace, her warmth, her integrity; with the death of our remarkable Queen whose diligence and steadfastness so often went unremarked I feel a sudden absence of all those old-time values which she embodied. I sense a hole in the fabric of our society, a space where truth, integrity and a firm foundation of compassion has slowly eroded. Then I think of all those thousands of people queuing and what they represent and I'm more hopeful. We have small voices but together, as so often in this forum for instance, we can show our care for each other.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slowdown]

They did the same for Philip's funeral, Sky didn't show the coffin "going down" but I caught it later on a BBC replay,

[Slowdown in reply to PMRpro]

Same here, I couldn't believe I didn't notice the very slow descent - and then it wasn't there.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slowdown]

The crematorium in Dundee has a similar catafalque so the coffin sinks under the cover during the prayers. Beats the curtains - but I got the giggles at my MIL's funeral - she hated lifts and was terrified of fire.

[Slowdown in reply to PMRpro]

😉Oh those inappropriate giggles, you can feel them coming on!

[Kendrew in reply to Slowdown]

You've expressed so beautifully how I feel today too.

[Slowdown in reply to Kendrew]

💐 Thank you, Kendrew. x Feeling non-plussed and rather empty after the welter of emotions.

[Kendrew in reply to Slowdown]

I think it's the same for many of us. It'll be helpful when a respectable amount of time has elapsed and we can begin to look forward to our new King's coronation. It'll be bitter sweet but life has to move on and Queen Elizabeth would have been the first to support that.

[Slowdown in reply to Kendrew]

I agree with that - one thing I've decided is not to follow so closely what the BBC News website calls 'the roaring return of noisy politics' It doesn't do my stress levels any good and we all know what that means.. 😱

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Slowdown]

I know exactly where are coming from….feeling really flat today, even a couple of hours in the garden sorting out for the new season hasn’t been the usual uplifting experience.

Sure many will be the same….every one had loved ones to remember, as well the late Queen.

[Slowdown in reply to DorsetLady]

I usually head straight to the garden for some natural therapy, I love these September days, but the combination of all the intensity. and a covid jab on Saturday have shredded my motivation. The best I can do is feet up with tea and a book and my friend the robin who comes and takes food from my hand - life begins its balancing act.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Slowdown]

A cup of tea and a book is good -a friendly robin is even better.

Noticed long tailed tits on the feeders today -hopefully they’ll be around for a while….

[Slowdown in reply to DorsetLady]

Something good to look forward to, those chattering groups of long-tailed tits, really uplifting in the cold months.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slowdown]

Yesterday we still had swallows/martins circling the church tower - first genuine frost this morning so I imagine they have nipped south smartish today!

[Slowdown in reply to PMRpro]

Definitely getting cooler overnight here, 4C two days ago, they may have been Cornish swallows you were seeing!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Slowdown]

They've been around all summer and it looked over the weekend as if they were gathering. Last Tuesday it was 24C - scraping up to 16C for half an hour today isn't quite the same

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

About 4-5 days before they finally depart, they gather and go on a two-day training flight. They gather and then from a signal of presumably the lead bird they all take off simultaneously. Disappear and then return for a final top up of insects. They rear three broods each year at ours. Goodness knows how many insects they eat but I am glad they do because otherwise the farm would be inundated with flies.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

One swallow is said to eat about 850 insects a day ....

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

wow. thanks. We also have a murmuration of starlings on our fields adjacent to the farmhouse and thousands flock making the grass turn black as they peck for the larvae of crane flies. They cover some 10 acres when they land. all in all it is wonderful to see how plenty of insects occuring naturally feed so many others and keep the balance. We are virtually fly free during the spring and summer, yet there is always sufficient to provide each year.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

Why are they called a murmuration - they do anything but murmur!!!!

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

I don't know, but they flew over our house and garden and the sound of thousands of wings may be the reason. Their flight was impressive and beautiful as was the ground cover almost blanket like.

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

ours left over a week ago and the house martins

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

Maybe it was some of yours I saw - 200 miles a day is about right,

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

Wouldn't that be lovely. I like that and now I'm going to believe it. I want it to be true. When the curlews come back their first call signals spring and when the swallows and house martins return, I know the world is still alright.

[discoballs]

It's all very sad. I avoided watching most of the funeral but my American born wife (Elizabeth Mary) watched it all. The Queen has always been with me.

[cycli]

I remember how I was in my early 20's and cannot get out of my mind the qualities born into and honed of a soon to be monarch dedicating her LIFE to service of her country and people. Such integrity and steadfastness without any deviation throughout her long life to maintain such is truly awe-inspiring. I truly don't think we will see her like again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

Not least because the next 3 potential monarchs aren't likely to be "in post" so young!

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

true though it's all the more impressive because of that.