HM Queen Elizabeth

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Ex-Ascot
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#141 Post by Ex-Ascot » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:14 pm

I defy any other country in the world to put on a bash like that. Botswana? =))
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#142 Post by G-CPTN » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:19 pm

Those pallbearer lads deserve a couple of beers.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#143 Post by TheGreenAnger » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:31 pm

The navy lads were admirable. What is the history of them pulling the gun carriage?
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#144 Post by 4mastacker » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:34 pm

Well done to all the servicemen and women taking part - absolutely spot-on. :YMAPPLAUSE: :YMAPPLAUSE: :YMAPPLAUSE:

We too switched off the sound because of the wibbling, dribbling, like-the-sound-of-their-own-voices presenters. When will they learn to STFU and let the pictures speak for themselves?
The navy lads were admirable. What is the history of them pulling the gun carriage?
Apparently it was due to the failure of the horses at Victoria's(?) funeral so a load of matelots were collared to haul the hearse and it's been the practice ever since.
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#145 Post by TheGreenAnger » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:38 pm

Ex-Ascot wrote:
Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:14 pm
I defy any other country in the world to put on a bash like that. Botswana? =))
The Brits do pageantry and queueing very well tis true! ;)))

Botswana does a mean hippo and SA does pretty much nothing well now save for power cuts and, maybe occasionally, rugby!
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#146 Post by VP959 » Mon Sep 19, 2022 5:15 pm

My humble apologies. I threw a strop on the day that our late Monarch died at what I saw here as disrespect for her and her family. I had no idea that our illustrious admin had created this new thread, with my, somewhat stroppy, post from that other thread starting it

When I read G-CPTNs words above I had just (as in a few minutes earlier) penned a letter of thanks to the pall bearers. In particular, the fair haired lad at the front left stood out. It's far too easy to just say this was their duty, but I will bet my pension that none of them ever dreamt that they would be doing such a momentous duty when they signed up. I've once been a pall bearer, for a a very much more humble funeral, and know just how hard it is to stop emotion from overcoming duty. I cannot begin to imagine how hard a task this was for those young men, carrying their former Colonel in Chief to her final resting place, knowing that many tens of millions of people were watching from around the globe. They carried out their duty with aplomb, and no trace of the deep emotion that every one of them must have felt. People unfairly make fun of the British "stiff upper lip", but this was a first class example of why that is so important.

Yes, we do indeed do pageantry with a degree of excellence, but then we've had a very long time to practice. My wife's family still live in the castle (at least a part of it - the National Trust have most of it now, thanks to the taxman) that was built with the consent of the King (William I) in 1085. I am not sure how many realise what a burden it is to have one's life dictated by the obligation to serve. I am forever grateful that I was born, and remain, a Commoner, as I had the freedom to choose my career, choose who I married and choose how to spend my free time. These are all things largely denied to those born into families that have a duty to the nation. No amount of money or privilege would ever compensate me for my freedom to do as I have chosen to do throughout my life.

To me, this makes the Late Queen's promise, made on her 21st birthday, all the more significant. These words: "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong" are remarkable because she was the only person on this planet that actually honoured such a promise to her people. Our politicians (of whatever hue) would gain a modicum of respect if they showed one millionth of the dedication to duty that Her Late Majesty did.

Finally, I think now is the time to scale down the monarchy and consider the future of this country. I doubt that any future King or Queen could come close to our Late Queen, society has moved on, and the monarchy needs to change. We are no longer the masters of an Empire, and I am sure that many Commonwealth countries for whom the King is head of state will seek to become republics in the coming years. The death of Queen Elizabeth II will most probably act as a catalyst for change, so it would be better if King Charles III were to choose to take the lead, and reform the monarchy so that it does not get killed off by the death by one thousand cuts.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#147 Post by ricardian » Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:24 pm

I discovered that the BBC was broadcasting a version with vision and sound but NO commentary. Excellent! Was able to watch the whole thing without "expert" commentators wibbling on about trivialities. What a brilliant display of pomp & ceremonial by all concerned - everyone from the Duke of Norfolk down should be congratulated.
There was one tiny hiccup as the coffin and all the associated escorts were about to leave Westminster Hall - the order "By the
centre, slow...March!" was given but the drummer started his beat a fraction of a second before the word "March!" was uttered. A minor bit of shuffling soon had everyone back in step.
URL for the commentary-free version
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#148 Post by FD2 » Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:50 pm

G-CPTN wrote:
Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:19 pm
Those pallbearer lads deserve a couple of beers.
Plus 1. Well done lads, only a few billion people watching.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#149 Post by ricardian » Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:41 pm

FD2 wrote:
Mon Sep 19, 2022 8:50 pm
G-CPTN wrote:
Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:19 pm
Those pallbearer lads deserve a couple of beers.
Plus 1. Well done lads, only a few billion people watching.
Various estimates of the TV audience agree on a figure of about 4 billion - about twice the world's population when Queen Elizabeth was born in 1926.
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#150 Post by Karearea » Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:22 am

Seeing the Sceptre, Orb and Crown finally, finally, taken away, and placed upon the altar was intensely moving and symbolic.

A truly good life, completed.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#151 Post by G-CPTN » Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:28 am

I have vivid memories of Elizabeth's coronation - watched on our new television.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#152 Post by ExSp33db1rd » Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:47 am

I have vivid memories of Elizabeth's coronation - watched on our new television.
My then girl friend's family were the only ones I knew with a TV for the Coronation, they invited the neighbours, and me. Unforgettable.

Stayed up till after 1.00 am in NZ watching, went to bed when the car departed for Windsor, agree about the BBC commentary, could hardly hear a word of it, but perhaps that was just as well ! Glad someone has mentioned the navy cap bands, I did wonder too, good ploy.

Well done the horses, too, well controlled, tho' they left "evidence" of their presence on the roads, that others had obviously trodden on !

Superb effort, bet the Coronation is but a mere slice of this by comparison, well deserved. RIP.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#153 Post by G-CPTN » Tue Sep 20, 2022 12:53 am

G-CPTN wrote:
Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:19 pm
Those pallbearer lads deserve a couple of beers.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was Company Commander for the soldiers picked to be pallbearers for the funeral.
The soldiers carrying the Queen's coffin were specially chosen for the role and flew back from Iraq to prepare for the funeral.
The men, part of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, were deployed on operations in Iraq on the day the Queen died but flew back upon hearing of her death.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#154 Post by Karearea » Tue Sep 20, 2022 1:10 am

Proverbs 30:28 -

The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces

- and on Queen's flowers.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#155 Post by Ex-Ascot » Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:03 am

We also mustn't forget that with all the lead that coffin was heavy with a big 'H'.

Edit, the weight was 230 kgs.
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#156 Post by PHXPhlyer » Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:11 am

Lead? :-?

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#157 Post by G-CPTN » Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:40 am

A bespoke oak coffin lined with lead was created some years ago, as HM's body will not be buried or cremated, but will remain in a vault with other deceased royals.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#158 Post by VP959 » Tue Sep 20, 2022 7:15 am

Indeed, lead lined coffins are normal for vault burials. They are virtually hermetically sealed once the lid is screwed down. The one time I carried one it was lead lined, for a vault burial in a family tomb. Needed 8 pall bearers rather than the 6 that is more normal for an "ordinary" coffin.

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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#159 Post by 4mastacker » Tue Sep 20, 2022 9:41 am

Ex-Ascot wrote:
Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:03 am
We also mustn't forget that with all the lead that coffin was heavy with a big 'H'.

Edit, the weight was 230 kgs.
Which makes the pall bearers performance all the more impressive. I didn't see any wobble or shaking as the coffin was raised or lowered. Ascending the steps of St George's Chapel must have been a daunting challenge for them. They certainly deserved to have a few pints bought for them last night.
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Re: HM Queen Elizabeth

#160 Post by limeygal » Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:00 am

Got up at 2 am and watched the whole thing. BBC did indeed have a no commentary version, which is what I chose to watch. They certainly did the Queen proud. Touching little personal details with the corgis and pony. The way they arranged the public's flowers at Windsor was a lovely touch. It felt all inclusive. Watching the ceremony, I felt very proud to be British. I hope the outpouring of love and respect for the Queen has kicked the "let's get rid of the Monarchy" mob to the curb. Outstanding job by the military. I wonder what the final tally of visitors to Westminster Hall will be?

As to the future, I too think that CIII will do some "thinning" out of the hangers-on. He was hinting at it long before the Queen's demise. Monarchy does need to move with the times, and hopefully he can pull it off while maintaining the things we saw yesterday.

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