The Protocol Thread

[PrincessKaimi]

Sad, but very civilized planning.

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

I guess the news organizations have to prepare for the inevitable

Yes and hopefully they get everything right this time. I suspect there have also been, or will be , rehearsals for the military ceremonial portion of the state funeral. The QM took quite an interest in arrangements for her own funeral and reviewed plans several times. I seem to recall reading that she did not like the candle holders used by the Abbey so she sent over some of her own.

[Burzg]

i know in The Royal Protocol every thing have timing right ? like everything have specific time ?

thanks you

[Diarist]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

Yes and hopefully they get everything right this time. I suspect there have also been, or will be , rehearsals for the military ceremonial portion of the state funeral. The QM took quite an interest in arrangements for her own funeral and reviewed plans several times. I seem to recall reading that she did not like the candle holders used by the Abbey so she sent over some of her own.

Yes, as usual, you are spot-on NGalitzine. Such reheasals, or parts of them, have, over the years, taken place in Central London, usually around 3.00am in the morning. I even think I came across one: see what you think; this is what happened:- Some years ago [actually, quite some years ago, because it before I went up to Oxford] I was returning from a 'jolly time' at Annabel's. It was start of April, and not quite light. My boyfriend had parked in Waterloo Place, just near Carlton House Terrace. We actually found a cab to take us back to where he had parked. Whilst he was paying the cab driver, I noticed the sound of hoofs apparently coming from The Mall. [Very near by]. Instead of getting into his car, we walked the few yards to the top of the steps and saw the Household Cavalry and also Footguards all marching, rather slowly. And a gun carriage. There were quite a few police about, although, for Central London, this was not that usual. Being me, I aked one of the Police Officers what was going on, and he simply replied 'A rehearsal'. Again, 'being me', I asked what the rehearsal was for, and the police officer said to me, 'Oh, Trooping the Colour or something(!)' - [note the 'vagueness', forum members, from a police officer actually INVOLVED!!] - 'and now, you, young lady, had better be going off to bed' [I was in my party frock]. This was 'good enough' for me, but my boyfriend, who was hoping to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother and attend Sandhurst in due course, and took an interest in all things military, thought it all a bit odd. Whilst he knew [which I did not, at that point] that rehearsals for the Birthday Parade did sometimes take place very early in the morning, that usually did not happen until late May. The gun carriage particularly seemed 'out of place/ position' as well to him, but we didn't really think anything more about it. However, a few years later, I actually found out that State Funerals were periodically rehearsed in just that way. Whilst the Queen was still in late middle age when we had come across the 'rehearsal', the Queen Mother was certainly 'getting on' a bit, [although in fact she did live another 25 years or so after that night].


And yes, Burzg, so far as the BRF is concerned, everything to do with Royal Life is timed to the exact minute, particularly visits and parades and suchlike. If you ever watch Trooping the Colour, notice how the clock at Horse Guards always chimes at the precise moment the ceremony commences etc. The arrival of the everybody - the Military, the BRF who are watching the ceremony and HM and Prince Philip who are participating - is all perfectly worked out.


Hope this is interesting,

Alex

[NGalitzine]

Yes Alex that does sound like a rehearsal for the QM's state funeral. As I said she was known to take quite an interest in the plans and apparently even viewed one of the rehearsals. When someone apparently expressed surprise that such rehearsals would take place she found it quite amusing. I am sure the Queen is aware of such plans for her own state funeral though I doubt she, being a more pragmatic sort of person, would view it with the same amusement as her mother did.
I believe when one marries into the BRF one of the first things you are asked about is your funeral wishes. They don't leave anything to chance.

Nicholas

[Diarist]

Thank you for that Nicholas. My mother actually told me that the Queen Mother was amused by her funeral plans, but I did not know she had actually viewed one of the rehearsals. That does make perfect sense, though. Clarence House overlooks the Mall, and so I assume it would have been easy enough for her to cast her eye over things without leaving home!

I am not an overly sentimental person, but I have to say that I really do miss the Queen Mother. Before they redeveloped Royal Ascot, we always used to like coming across her on the way to and from the Paddock. She always had a smile for everyone, and as she got older and transferred to a golf cart [painted in her racing colours!] she used to wave as well as she was chauffeured around.

[esme]

I've been raised to respect royalty and always curtsey, even to more "minor" royals. I've been lucky enough to meet TRH Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and curtseyed to both of them, addressing them as "Your Royal Highness" followed by "Ma'am". The only other royal I've met is HRH Prince Edward, and again I curtseyed and called him "Your Royal Highness" followed by "Sir". I know it's cool to shake hands and use first names (eg the screaming crowds on TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Canada tour shouting "Will, Kate, we love you!") and as a young person I know it's unusual for someone my age to observe protocol so strictly, but I believe we have tradition for a reason, and manners cost nothing. It's not as oddly formal as it sounds, anyway. :)