I watched Luton v Watford, the result of which put me in a suitably funereal mood. So I gave the actual funeral a miss and went out for a walk by the lake instead ;-)

Felt bad for the Queen sat all on her own. I’m sure the whole family mixed when back at the “house” though (they were already mixing on the walk back).

Beautiful people, beautiful music, intrigue and the queen sitting all alone.

I was thinking that too. She looked so alone and bereft.

Surely close family members had been to see her in the past week?
I’m pretty sure Prince Charles said he’d been to visit here, surely they could have sat him next to her in the church. Didn’t he and Camilla have COVID last year anyway and they’re both vaccinated so I don’t really see why they couldn’t sit with the Queen.

Yes, my heart went out to the Queen, when she walked into St George's Chapel she looked so frail and sad.
I suspect that she sat separately to Charles and Camilla to send the message out to all the families who have said goodbye to their loved ones, who had to sit separately from their families that she follows the rules too.

I thought that the Landrover that Prince Philip helped design to carry his coffin was wonderful..

Perhaps she remained alone as her love and all the family members there were because of them and their life together?
She was alone when she fell in love with him, and alone to say good-bye.

I suppose it was her wish. I don't think she needed anyone comforting her for the departure of someone who was her partner for 73 years. They can't, anyway. It must be hard enough to have such an intimate thing broadcasted.

I watched it and I think the Duke would be happy with how it all went. He wanted simple and you couldn't get much more simple than that.

Hmmm, now I wonder how lavish would have been.

Well, more pomp and ceremony and more guests. If held in London then a journey to Windsor would probably see the streets lined with people paying their own respects to the Duke. But evidently he requested no sermon or eulogy; I was wondering why Charles hadn't had anything to say, but that explains it.

Yes, very simple, just a few thousand people involved.

If I said I wanted "simple" I'd mean no ceremony at all, so I guess it's just a question of degree.

Well, that was always unlikely, given his status as a Royal.

That'll be a decision for the British don't you think?

komsomolez - What happened to your last monarch?

Let me remind you - he started a world war causing the death of about twenty million people and then abdicated in embarrassment at the end of it.

Is that the way it should be done?

How about a referendum?

The last official poll, in March last month showed 63% of people wanted a Monarchy to remain, 25% said no and 12% didn't know.

I'm not sure a referendum is necessary yet.

Anyway, I'm not sure these things are done by referendum - isn't it more imprisonment in the Tower and then a public beheading or shooting?

I don't think the British people hate the monarchy that much.

There's no need to hate it, just to find it highly outdated. Things might change in a few generations, who knows.

But I guess each to their own. Right now global media is still happy to promote them.

I thought you were talking about religion for a moment there (or a number of other aspects of our society).

True - but I can think of a lot more issues in today's society that probably need addressing first.

I can't really see any huge problem that will be solved in the U.K. by getting rid of the monarchy.

I can see a number of disadvantages such as a loss of tourist revenue. The monarchy is a bit of a money spinner, albeit indirectly.

The public gets a nice show for their money. It would be a bit like pulling the plug on the Swiss public TV.
After the Brexit debacle the Brits will not be polled any time soon unless it is ensured the leading tabloids share the elite's consensus...