Service of Thanksgiving for the Duke of Edinburgh; 29 March 2022

[amaryllus]

It’s just beautifully telling of the high esteem the Duke was held in and the undoubtably warm memories he left with the Royal/Aristocratic attendees. Personally I Believe he was looking down from on high and getting a kick out of getting them all together chatting and enjoying each other’s company esp after the last two years.

 

[victor1319]

The strong message was sent by arriving with the Queen that Andrew is her beloved son no matter what...

Who knows? Perhaps was the "strong message", that Prince Andrew was only a bit too flirty with some peasant girls... Who knows, what the Queen thinks? I have at least my ideas, what Prince Andrew thinks about the Giuffre girl, he alledgedly never met... And perhaps he is an apple, which did not fell far from the tree.

In my humble opinion this was a mistake, that he was allowed to drive with the Queen! It is at least weakness and damages the decades of flawlessness the Queen has delivered - besides her behavior at Diana's death perhaps, which was by many seen as coldhearted...

But I hope everybody here in The Royal Forums accepts my apologies up front! I do not want one more "bad feelings thread". The drivel above is just my totally irrelevant opinion, which I do not hold back. And why? We are all fans of royalty I think and a bit of criticism must be allowed.

 

[Molly2101]

I think it made sense for Andrew to accompany his mother as all of her other children have spouses to arrive with.

What really got me was seeing Beatrice overcome with emotion as her grandmother arrived. I guess it was a little bit of seeing her and of the occasion and also perhaps thinking of what little time they have left with her. That really moved me as it just shows they’re all human.

I think everyone looked great and it was so lovely to see so many of the great grandchildren. I also cannot get over how grown up Lady Louise is.

 

[MonacoRoyalFan]

Do we know if there are any other things happening with so many foreign royals in town? Private meetings or luncheon?

Another precious moment at 1:30.

Here, you can see Princess Beatrice adorably thinking of and remembering her grandfather when the reverend mentions the Duke being sharp. She definitely was the family member who showed the most emotion today—both tears and smiles. Reminds me of his funeral where just before leaving, she turned and took one last look at the Duke’s coffin. Touching gesture.

 

[amaryllus]

Oh I am sure most likely some of the Royal wives had a girls lunch or the husbands hung out and then couples had a night out. But we will probably never know.

 

[PrincessofEurope]

Wouldn’t surprise me if Autumn was in the wider general audience and not seated with the family. It was a big event for her children to attend (her presence might have been a good support for them) and she was the granddaughter in law for many years and had dated Peter for years prior to that

 

[Alison H]

Sorry if this question has already been answered, but why were the British royal ladies as well as Queen Letizia and Princess Beatrix wearing green? Does it have some special meaning?

.

It's "Edinburgh Green", the colour of Prince Philip's household - the colour used in livery worn by his staff, and also for some of his cars.

 

[Marchesina]

Unsure how much should be read into it - it was more of a convenient arrangement. The press were to be kept away from the Queen getting out the car - so they also will not take pics of Andrew. Also the Queen needed someone to support her in and out of car and down the isle.
Sometimes need out ways attempts to give signals to the press

I agree. He didn't go though the main entrance and this avoided him to be seen by many people. Also he was barely filmed by the cameras.
While it is a message of support, it allowed for him to be seen as less as possible, something which I am totally fine with

 

[Parrothead]

In my opinion, the Queen made quite a statement here by having Andrew travel in her car and escort her virtually to her seat in the Abbey - that he has her love and support and is still a beloved family member.

I completely agree. And even though he is disgraced in the eyes of the public, it was a service for his father, so he really did have every right to be there. I think having him enter with the Queen away (for the most part) from the glare of publicity was smart.

 

[MonacoRoyalFan]

Do we know if there are any other things happening with so many foreign royals in town? Private meetings or luncheon?

And just like that, we’ve got an answer. The Romanian Royals reveal in their website post on the Service of Thanksgiving, that Prince Charles hosted a “family reunion” at Clarence House after the service.

 

[ladongas]

Does anyone know who the very chic lady in grey was; she was showing a lot of leg?

Her picture in the DM was right after those of Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer.

 

[Katymcwaity]

Does anyone know who the very chic lady in grey was; she was showing a lot of leg?

Her picture in the DM was right after those of Nicola Sturgeon and Keir Starmer.

Think it was india hicks, mountbattens grand daughter. I presume her mother was too ill to attend?

 

[Katymcwaity]

Another precious moment at 1:30.

Here, you can see Princess Beatrice adorably thinking of and remembering her grandfather when the reverend mentions the Duke being sharp. She definitely was the family member who showed the most emotion today—both tears and smiles. Reminds me of his funeral where just before leaving, she turned and took one last look at the Duke’s coffin. Touching gesture.

Noticed Princess Anne nodding in agreement with that bit too.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The playing of The Seafarers to close out the service must have been chosen as a tribute to the Duke's naval service.

Were there any nods to Greece in the service?

And just like that, we’ve got an answer. The Romanian Royals reveal in their website post on the Service of Thanksgiving, that Prince Charles hosted a “family reunion” at Clarence House after the service.

I believe this is the post you refer to.

Comemorarea Ducelui de Edinburg | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of România

"După ceremonia religioasă de la Abația Westminster, oficiată de Decanul de Westminster, dr. David Hoyle, cuplul regal român a participat la o întâlnire de familie la Clarence House, la invitația Principelui de Wales."

Princess Christina, mrs Magnuson today
https://image.svenskdam.se/chris-ab...roph=100&width=1600&height=834&compression=80
https://image.svenskdam.se/sdldunmr...2015915&width=1600&height=1468&compression=80
https://image.svenskdam.se/sdlmqer1...0408163&width=1600&height=1419&compression=80

Thank you for confirming Mary-Rose's identification.

It's odd that she was omitted from the Order of Service, when other foreign royals (even those who are not senior royals) were mentioned by name. I saw your post regarding the court's recent statement that Princess Christina is in good health, but all the same I wonder if her attendance could not be certain until very late.

I assume the absence of Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, was for reasons of health given her recent long hiatus from royal duties.

 

[Princess B]

Everybody is saying Princess Alexandra didn’t attend, but I’ve seen pictures of her attending in a cast and with crutches.

 

[mybags]

Everybody is saying Princess Alexandra didn’t attend, but I’ve seen pictures of her attending in a cast and with crutches.

Daily Mail had it wrong as usual. That was Lady Susan Hussey.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Everybody is saying Princess Alexandra didn’t attend, but I’ve seen pictures of her attending in a cast and with crutches.

For clarification, I based my comment on her omission from the order of service (the other Kent and Gloucester princes and princesses were listed) and other comments saying she did not attend. If it was indeed Princess Alexandra, perhaps she decided to attend at the last moment?

 

[Mbruno]

There seems to have been a slight confusion at the end of the service when the foreign royals were left waiting at the door of Abbey while the members of the British Royal Family were leaving. The UK Royal Household used to get those things right, but both the arrivals and departures today were uncharateristically chaotic by British standards.

 

[muriel]

There seems to have been a slight confusion at the end of the service when the foreign royals were left waiting at the door of Abbey while the members of the British Royal Family were leaving. The UK Royal Household used to get those things right, but both the arrivals and departures today were uncharateristically chaotic by British standards.

I think there were severe traffic problems in the area today, which is what caused these complications. That said, it is uncharacteristic of BP to not manage these things extremely well.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Which of Prince Philip's relatives from Germany attended the service?

 

[Tirilschatz]

Which of Prince Philip's relatives from Germany attended the service?

The same three who attended the actual funeral, together with their respective wives. They were sat, together with the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, front row opposite the Queen, Charles, Camilla, Anne and Timothy.

I somewhere read that around 50 relatives from Germany attended, but I can't tell who the others were, sorry!

 

[Osipi]

I think there were severe traffic problems in the area today, which is what caused these complications. That said, it is uncharacteristic of BP to not manage these things extremely well.

What we do know is that Philip, himself, was very involved in the planning of this service of thanksgiving and it possible could have been his own request that there be no disruption of London traffic solely for him. He was a no muss, no fuss kind of guy and that sounds like something he would think of.

One more thing about how Andrew arrived. Another way it turned out perfectly is that each and every person put their own thought onto it. So, Victor, your opinion is just as valid as anyone else's is. Arriving with the Queen, his entrance was private for those that believed he shouldn't be seen and it also showed a strong bong between mother and son for those that saw that and also Andrew was the perfect person to accompany her as it was stated earlier, he was the only child of Philip to not have a spouse to arrive with. Bingo. It was perfectly executed.

I know I've said this before but it's been said that when a man dies, he holds in his hands only that which has been given away. The attendance, the people from far and wide that traveled to London to be there, the representatives from so many organizations that Philip was involved in and representatives from the military that Philip gave so much of his life to filled Westminster Abbey representing everything Philip had ever given his time and energy and support to. What he'd given away to in his life filled that huge Abbey

 

[Stefan]

The same three who attended the actual funeral, together with their respective wives. They were sat, together with the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, front row opposite the Queen, Charles, Camilla, Anne and Timothy.

I somewhere read that around 50 relatives from Germany attended, but I can't tell who the others were, sorry!

There where more. Could also see Princes Leopold, Michael and Berthold of Baden with the spouses.

 

[Tirilschatz]

There where more. Could also see Princes Leopold, Michael and Berthold of Baden with the spouses.

As I said, there were around 50, but I don't know them all.

 

[wartenberg7]

There seems to have been a slight confusion at the end of the service when the foreign royals were left waiting at the door of Abbey while the members of the British Royal Family were leaving. The UK Royal Household used to get those things right, but both the arrivals and departures today were uncharateristically chaotic by British standards.

Yes, I was very confused watching all these very old Princes (Jordan) and Queens (Denmark, Netherlands while the swedish royal couple, despite its age, seems to be still pretty fit) expected to be waiting and standing that long! There is normally always a chair for the danish Queen these days since a couple of years wherever she goes (she never remains standing in receiving lines, for instance). Yes, comparing the normal british clockwork precision, this was very rude and terribly organised...
I was missing somebody from Norway...?!
And who was the lady accompanying the D o Kent? Wouldn´t a male aide-du-camp not be more suitable?

 

[gagates]

Looking at one of the wider group photos, I was confused as to why William was all the way back in the fifth row, until I realized it was Lord Frederick Windsor! It might just be the lighting or the angle, but the resemblance is uncanny.

This is the photo.

I thought that too, that there is a huge resemblance

 

[gagates]

I think, they generally solved the problem with Andrew quite good. After all it still was his father. But not showing him for the most part, essentially only with the Queen was a good Idea, also he came solo...


What i like about Beatrices reaction is, that it shows that they are still family and not just queen and prince...


I understand why the Queen wouldn't want be shown frail or in a wheelchair. But don't you think that the praise would be so huge, showing that is normal to need a wheelchair. Obviously she has still a sharp mind... I would have loved to see her making that statement, but she is from a different generation and i respect that.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I think it made sense for Andrew to accompany his mother as all of her other children have spouses to arrive with.

What really got me was seeing Beatrice overcome with emotion as her grandmother arrived. I guess it was a little bit of seeing her and of the occasion and also perhaps thinking of what little time they have left with her. That really moved me as it just shows they’re all human.

I think everyone looked great and it was so lovely to see so many of the great grandchildren. I also cannot get over how grown up Lady Louise is.

Same here. I was prepared for Beatrice to be as stoic as everyone but she wept quite openly.

I remember how at Philip's funeral service she seemed to linger near his coffin and was gently led away by Edo.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I think there were severe traffic problems in the area today, which is what caused these complications. That said, it is uncharacteristic of BP to not manage these things extremely well.

Members of the British RF were meant to leave first but it seems the Belgian King and Queen went ahead a left before the Kents and Gloucester's and caused problems then and a crowd of foreign royals were left clogging up the entrance .
Prince Albert II of Monaco seems to have known everyone!

 

[wartenberg7]

Is it known why the norwegian King and Queen didn´t come although they´ve been scheduled (or did they also arrive and leave by a side entrance because of The King´ s walking difficulties?!).


Have all the royal and non-royal guests been invited to Windsor for a lunch afterwards?!


Oh, just spotted Nicola Sturgeon leaving the Abbey in her bright red heels... Goodness sake...!