The Memorial Service: 31 August 2007

[Avalon]

All the Ladies look very nice, but Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne are hands down the best.

here are some pictures:
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
Prince Harry and Prince William arrive

Cliff Richards
Sir Elton John
Tony and Cherie Blair
Gordon Brown and Sarah Brown
Lord Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim
Former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey
Dominic Lawson, Rosa Monkton and her daughter

[georgiea]

Does anyone else think that the Queen and Prince Philip look aprehensive in being there at the beginning? They seem to look down when they entered the ceromony. On their way out it looked that they were looking at the people there to gange the response to them. Also, I think Prince Charles was a good father making sure Prince Harry had his speech with him. Prince Harry's speach WAS WONDERFUL IN HIS TRIBUTE TO HIS MOTHER!! I hope she can rest in peace now. I think the boys tried to make this memorial a healing and closure for both families.

[Hendrik-Jan77]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Someone really needs to teach William how to speak publicly. Swaying about like he's had a few. The seating is rather queer - William is practically sitting on the Queen's lap whilst Charles couldn't be furthur away. The space between him and the Duke of Edinburgh really is quite evident. And Harry on the Spencers side - all very odd.

I think it's really nice for them to sit each on the other side of the aisle with the two families.
I believe this way they want to show the families are united in their grief and devotion for Diana.

[Avalon]

Indeed, Prince Harry's speech was touching. Prince William should learn speaking in public (and making sense), especially given his future role.

Wenn has more pictures. I didn't know Princess Alexandra was going to be present at the memorial. I haven't seen Zara anywhere though, was she present?

[CasiraghiTrio]

Thank you for the pictures, Avalon. Nice new avatar, BTW!

I notice the principal royal men are wearing what I presume from memory to be the Household Cavalry tie. I understand PW and PH being officers of the Blues and Royals. I think Prince Philip wears it because he is Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. I am sure Prince Charles is also a CIC of one of the Cavalry regiments, though I cannot recollect which one.
The Duke of Kent and Prince Michael also are retired from the Household Cavalry, right? I am guessing they wore the special tie as well though I didn't notice.

[Empress]

Well, Prince William only read a reading from the Bible, and not a speech of his own, so I think that we should give him some leeway, as those stories are not very reader friendly, and no one ever accused the bible of making sense.

On a side note - This is my 1000th post. YEA!

[lucien]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

The Duchess of Kent is absent. Maybe she's teaching today.

No,dear Katherine was there.

Thought it to be an appropiate and moving service.

Suppose Zara must be at an equestrian event?

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Empress

Okay. Princess Anne was there. I thought that she was supposed to be elsewhere today? Ah well.The American and British commentators are just idiots.

The Princess Royal wasn't on the books for any other engagement today. It was strange she wasn't on the royal diary as being at the service, but it is a relief she attended the service. Her absence would have been odd. She knew Diana for so many years, and Diana was much-loved by Anne's children, and I have always thought Diana and Anne seemed to have a pleasant relationship, at least in public.

Agree about the commentators! All that stupid rambling on CNN about how Prince Harry was more candid or something than Prince William. Everything Christopher Anderson had to say was the lamest. And what about that one guy saying that Diana tried to bring the boys up "ordinarily", and "you see that in the schools they attended"! Eton College, for "ordinary" people!

[BeatrixFan]

Princess Alexandra obviously didn't get the message saying "No black outfits". She was done up for a funeral. Any snaps of Raine? I like to keep a measure on how big the hair is.

[rominet09]

Where can I find pix of Sophie Wessex ? I saw her and Tim Lawrence at the end of the service. He was gently stroking her cheek

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Princess Alexandra obviously didn't get the message saying "No black outfits". She was done up for a funeral. Any snaps of Raine? I like to keep a measure on how big the hair is.

Sam always great for keeping the mood from being too serious or depressing!

The Duchess of Gloucester's hat was far too big. Nobody find her face underneath it to give the customary 2 kisses. Princess Anne on the other hand donned an old friend of a hat that we could only see from the back. Most sensible.

Both these women were among the best dressed. The Duchess of Gloucester always amazes me, at 60 looking so beautiful and fit. Maybe she was trying to nod to the absent Camilla; someone after all has to wear the dangerously wide brimmed hat, and if not Camilla, why not Birgitte?

[muriel]

Originally Posted by LadyK

The queen looks wonderful! What brooch is she wearing?

Didn´t get a good look, but looked like the Cullinan.

I thought the Duchess of Kent looked very old, possibly unwell, and seemed like she had put on a lot of weight. As usual, Princess Anne´s outfit looked about 20 years out of date. I thought Princess Michael´s hat looked far too big, and dress too shiny for the occassion. The one lady who stood out as being very elegant was actually Norma Major, wife of former PM Sir John Major

[christinacg]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

And what about that one guy saying that Diana tried to bring the boys up "ordinarily", and "you see that in the schools they attended"! Eton College, for "ordinary" people!

You caught that too! That made me laugh. There wre many things the commentators said that showed how not well informed they are about Diana and the royal family.

Harry's speech was wonderful! I was hoping there would have been more personal speeches like that. The formality of it all made it rather boring.

[muriel]

Originally Posted by Avalon

Indeed, Prince Harry's speech was touching. Prince William should learn speaking in public (and making sense), especially given his future role.

Wenn has more pictures. I didn't know Princess Alexandra was going to be present at the memorial. I haven't seen Zara anywhere though, was she present?

I thought William´s delievry of his reading was just fine. It was a difficult passage to read, and I think he did a good job. Going forward, he will have to improve his public speaking, but that will come with experience. This really si the first year he is making speeches in piublic,and in time I am sure he will get better

[Laura Elizabeth]

I watched the service at home this morning (late to work as a result ) and I thought it was wonderful. When the BBC announcer said Harry had a speech I just cringed... but it was excellent. I thought William did just fine; I've had to read Gospel passages at weddings and funerals and it's really awkward - I didn't find his delivery awkward or mumbled at all.

They both did a brilliant job and I hope they're pleased with the results.

[Avalon]

Originally Posted by muriel

I thought William´s delievry of his reading was just fine. It was a difficult passage to read, and I think he did a good job. Going forward, he will have to improve his public speaking, but that will come with experience. This really si the first year he is making speeches in piublic,and in time I am sure he will get better

I thought he didn't do a particularly good job, but that's just my opinion. Of course, I agree with wil come from experience, if he will try hard enough.

[fanletizia]

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