Very few people in the world are as busy and have as many commitments as the Pope, but even
he managed to send a nuncio to Brussels to represent him.In comparison the idea that each and every member of the House of Windsor was simpy too "busy" and had events that could not be rescheduled strikes me as just beyond ridiculous. They are, according to their enthusiastic fans at least, THE most significant and senior of the Royal houses and are supposed to set the standard for classy behavior. That is
not the case here.
The fact that I admire HM QEII as much as I do makes this rare misstep on her part even more baffling.
This is not a post to bash the BRF. I have had QEII and the DoE on a pedestal since I was a child. But frankly I think they botched this one big time, and yes...it does change the way I think of them just a little.
Saying this was "botched" IMO is one huge understatement. This isn't like Prince Albert not coming because first, the Twins aren't that old & Charlene is recovering from a Caesarean Section, which is a big operation even though it's thought of as a routine one in this day and age. Second, and I haven't made into it the thread for the Twins yet today, but it sounds like today their births were officially registered and that's something only Albert can do, so he was exactly where he needed to be today. Knowing her love of children, I am as sure as sure can be that Queen Fabiola was looking down on these new additions and smiling.
However, that reason for his absence is understandable. Out of all the Members of the BrRF, only 3 or 4 had Engagements today, so AFAIC that statement from the BP Press Office there were long standing Engagements keeping someone from the BrRF from attending? Yet another stupid mis step on behalf of that Office that has made things worse and whomever it was who thought that would work in the day of the Internet and Social Media needs a major wake up call.
Buckingham Palace have provided an explanation - no-one was available. Apart from the Ambassador whose job it is to represent Her Majesty's Government at such occasions.
There's a term for that. It's called Covering Your Tail & considering there were postings by people this week wondering who was coming from the BrRF up to yesterday because they had checked who did and who did not have an Engagement today. Which is easy to do these days and the fact they thought this poor sad excuse, which it is BTW, would be enough to cover the colossal blunder this is, then something is *very* wrong in the Press Office at BP.
No need to nitpick, it was very bad form and noticed by all that nobody came from the BRF. Royal families are a dying breed and need to support each other to maintain their existance and relevance. The BRF knows this more than most, they have done what it takes to continue to exist over the centuries.
BTW QElizII may have sent Rainier a private note for Grace's funeral, but Diana also famously attended, three months after the birth of P William.
IIRC, didn't Diana insist on going? I remember reading somewhere the reason being the night of Diana's first Evening Engagement where she wore that famous neckline plunging black sleeveless gown. It was to a Charity Fundraising Poetry Reading of Grace's & at one point Diana was so upset over what had almost happened when she got out of the car, Grace took Diana aside & let her both cry on her shoulder & also gave Diana some advice too. She never forgot that kindness & due to that insisted on representing the BrRF at Grace's Funeral.
Now that could just be a story, but it's the one I've heard/read over the years.
Now...About today...I am both shocked and stunned no one from the Windsors attended the Funeral of Queen Fabiola. As I said up post, this was not a day full of Engagements for the majority of the BrRF, so the "too busy" excuse does not fly here. If the rumour is true about the Foreign Office not wanting the EU President & a member of the BrRF at the same event is true, then that should have been said & the furor over all this would not be as vocal or intense as it is right now.
This was bungled and botched and...W/out a doubt something that should never have happened. Someone of the Senior British Royal Family *should* have been there & it is a slap in the face to the BeRF. Intentional or not.
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