Such a huge and powerful state funeral...
I'm a total sucker for all the military stuff ... Slow marches, dipped flags, bowed heads, and pipes, of course... moved, yes, but how can you not be?
... but I'm becoming a republican in my old age.
I'm conflicted in that much of the pageantry surrounding the funeral is there to reinforce the idea of monarchy, of entitlement, and the British class system, and much of that tradition is suspect.
But I did think:
The refusal to allow Harry to wear his uniform was simply spite. If it was necessary, he would not have been allowed to wear it some of the time. So Charles, Anne, and Edward wear uniforms, bedecked with medals, never having served on active duty. William has. Edward bailed out of military training after 4 months because he was not cut out for it ... (Andrew served, somewhat heroically, in the Falklands, he should have been there, not is a uniform he disgraced, but discreetly cuffed to a prison warden.)
Looking at the media response to Meghan Markle, I recall the media response to Diana. And the late Queen bears some responsibility for that.
1: The Princess Bride. The media loved her. Charles continues his affair with Camilla.
2: The Evil Witch. After the separation, the media turn. Her name is rubbished at every turn. They pour scandal on scandal.
3: The Dead Princess. About-face. Suddenly the media is falling over itself again to heap her praises. She is the People's Princess. This, the same media who were a few weeks before piling shit on her name.
When the crowds gathered in the Mall, the Queen, at Balmoral in Scotland, was advised to return to Buckingham Palace. She refused. Diana was now no longer part of 'the Firm'. She's old history. If they grieve, they will do so privately, but she is not part of them, nor will she receive any particular honours.
The senior police officer who went down to the Mall voices a caution. He has other ideas. The mob are crying, but that could very quickly turn to anger. There is a potential PR disaster looming here. Mobs change their nature in a flash. Get HRH back to London, pronto. The Royal Family must be seen to be grieving.
The media, always savvy to the public mood, pick it up and lead the way. And the British public follow where they are led.
So yes, I have a lot to admire about the Queen, but she was complicit in some very nasty stuff. and she bought off Andrew's accusers to protect the family name. and Andrew is aghast that he should come under public scrutiny for his actions. The family live in a bubble of Entitlement. They always have.
I admire Princess Anne, mainly for working and staying out of trouble. I don't admire King Charles III. Andrew should be behind bars, and would be, but for his connections. Edward... who is he?
