The Duke Of Edinburgh's death and funeral

On the 9th April 2021 just after 12pm it was announced that Prince Philip has died peacefully at Windsor Castle at the age of 99. 

News channels around the world broke the news starting with BBC news. In my area BBC Points West covered the duke of Edinburgh's death, the program covers Gloucestershire where they based one of the reports around because in Tetbury is where Prince Charles and Camilla lives they reported on how he left Highgrove house to go to Windsor to be with the grieving queen. His death will always merge with happiness for Charles and Camilla as he died on their wedding anniversary. 

In the coming days the dukes four children spoke out about his death. The first one to speak out was the dukes eldest son and the heir to the throne The Prince Of Wales on 10th April who came out from his residence at Highgrove. It was a very touching statement as he addressed the duke as 'My dear Papa was a very special person.' 

The next day his other children spoke out it comes after Charles's statement. Princess Anne gave a written tribute to her father where as Princes Andrew and Edward spoke out following a church service in Windsor on the 11th April. 

Preparations for the funeral were underway and people were wondering whether Prince Harry was coming into the UK for the funeral. It was announced nearer the time that he will be going to the funeral on his own as Meghan was heavily pregnant with their second child on doctors orders. 

On the 16th April Charles and Camilla made a emotional public appearance together since the Duke Of Edinburgh. They went to Marlbrorogh gardens to view the various floral tributes for the duke, they seemed tearful as they looked at the sea of artwork and flower tributes. There were heartbreaking images of Prince Charles tearfully looking up to the sky during the visit. There was also a mini land rover the dukes favorite type of car that Camilla rocked gently.  

On the 17th April was the dukes funeral and for me there were a number of touching things during the emotional service. I would like to point out that the duke planned his own funeral for years and he didn't want any fuss about it. 

• Sitting alone- Due to the Covid restrictions we seen a restricted funeral with only 30 guests attending. Which meant that there was social distancing in place between the family. The most heartbreaking image of the whole funeral was the Queen sitting on her own at her husbands funeral, and due to the restrictions you could only sit in your household bubbles. With the Queen it was Prince Philip who was in her bubble. No other family member could sit next to her as they were in their own household bubbles. 
• A future kings tears- The other heartbreaking image at the funeral was a picture of his eldest son and heir with tears running down his face during the funeral procession. A body language expert picked up on this saying that he was 'isolated in his own grief.' 
• A wife supporting husband- Staying with the Prince Of Wales in the funeral was the subtle support that his wife Camilla showed him during the service. Once Charles was in the chapel and took his seat next to Camilla she shuffled closer to him while he cried. There was also a moment at the end when they left the funeral. Charles decided to ditch the cars last minute and walked back to the castle, we seen him and Camilla make a swift exit from the chapel. Camilla noticeably placed her hand on his back as he had his handkerchief out, she also appeared to hold his mask and order of service to help him out. 
• Kate the peacemaker- The Duchess Of Cambridge was seen as peacemaker between Princes Harry and William. The rift between the two brothers worsened after the Oprah interview and everyone wanted to see if they would talk to each other as Harry wouldn't talk to his father, uncles and aunt. As they left the funeral on foot we caught The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge make small talk with Harry. Once Catherine got them talking she held back to walk and talk with the Countess Of Wessex who is William and Harry's auntie through marriage to their uncle Prince Edward, 

About 2 weeks after the funeral Prince Harry returned to the US and started interviews. He ended up on the armchair expert with Dax Shepard. Harry made some accusations that could hurt his family to the core, he was criticising the parenting of his father Prince Charles saying that he was brought up with pain and suffering calling it genetic pain. He also said that growing up in the royal family is like being in the Truman show and being in a zoo. So he said this about his father when he buried his own father two weeks before the interview, which must of been really really heartbreaking to him and the queen. 

Platinum Jubilee 2022

This blog is about the jubilee with the queen ascending the throne 70 years ago. I will be looking at the events of the jubilee including the triumphant return of the Sussexses. 

We start with the trooping the color, The Queen couldn't take the salute due to ongoing mobility problems so her son and heir took the lead instead. Charles is taking more and more of her roles with taking the state opening of parliament a month before the jubilee celebrations. 

He along side his son William and sister Anne rode down the mall on horseback to the horse guards parade to watch the parade. Prince Charles took the salute on behalf of the queen so they sat on their horses and watched them march past while Prince Charles took the salute at the front. 

When they left the horse guards parade and they made their way back up the mall towards Buckingham Palace and to everyone's surprise the queen made a surprise appearance on the balcony before the whole family joined her to inspect her troops going past the palace. She watched her son, daughter and grandson ride past through the gates of Buckingham Palace on their way to the balcony.

The balcony appearance was very interesting as it was only the working members of the royal family so that excludes Prince Harry and his wife, Prince Andrew and all the other grandchildren that want to keep private with their engagements etc. The people who were on the balcony were the Queens cousins, Prince Charles and Camilla, the duke and duchess on Cambridge and their children. Princess Anne and her husband and the earl and countess of Wessex and their children. 

The flypast at trooping of the color was very impressive with some entertainment with the children especially Lois. The planes were a bit too loud for a 4 year old and he made some funny faces that pleased the public. The finale were the red arrows which made a start to the jubilee celebrations. The emotion on that balcony was known from two people. The queen looked overwhelmed by the crowd cheering and saying hooray and Prince Charles was close to tears as he left the balcony probably because this is the last jubilee and big celebration with the queen. 

Before the beacon lighting is underway it was time for a special episode of Eastenders with some very special and royal guests. The Prince Of Wales and The Duchess Of Cornwall gave a surprise appearance by turning up at Albert Squares jubilee party, we knew that they visiting the square but never knew that they will be in the episode and I absolutely loved the episode. Prince Charles and Camilla did a fantastic job, they acted like their usual selves with their sense of humor in tow. 

The beacon lighting was very very impressive and moving. The Queen was in Windsor Castle her official residence, she walked out to turn on the light that will go all the way to London where Prince William is there. I have to say that she did look tired and unwell but she made it to turn the beacon on. It was moving because of the music and how it was shown from Windsor to London to light up the tree that was used because of the Queens canopy. That same evening it was announced that she wouldn't attend the service of thanksgiving the next day due to her being tired from the day before. 

The next day was the service of thanksgiving in St Pauls Cathedral unfortunately the queen won't be there instead Prince Charles was taking her place. The prime minister Boris Johnson arrived with boos and left with boos. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also arrived and left with boos, they managed to make a solo walk down to their seats as we call it the walk of shame with people in the congregation gave them evil stares as they walked solo to their seats. My understanding that they were late because when they go down to their seats the York sisters had to move so they can sit in. 

Prince William and Kate arrived in style and greeted the ministers and then waited for Prince Charles and Camilla to arrive and meet the ministers. They walked down to their seats while they played music from the Queens coronation 70 years ago. The most senior royal being the heir Prince Charles and Camilla and then William and Kate.

The service begins with a few word from the dean of St Paul's. They cut to the Queens representative Prince Charles who looked very very emotional and upset throughout the service maybe because of the future or the fact that the Queen wasn't there and he was sitting in her chair as he is representing her. 

The next day was quite quiet until the evening where there was a party at the palace at Buckingham Palace. The concert line up was:

• Queen and Adam Lambert 
• Jax Jones 
• Elbow 
• Diversity 
• Craig David 
• Andrew Lloyd Webber with musical stars
• Sam Ryder 
• George Ezra
• Rod Steward 
• Andrea Boceili 
• Duran Duran and Nile Rodgers
• Alicia Keys 
• Hanz Zimmer 
• Elton John 
• Ella Ere 
• Mica Paris, Ruby Turner and Nicola Roberts 
• Diana Ross 

The best bit by far at the concert was the very beginning where the Queen did a sketch with Paddington Bear. He was saying Thank you to her majesty and he does drink all of the tea, although we now know what she hides in her handbag a marmalade sandwich. At least she did this sketch as she didn't attend the concert itself due to the mobility. 

There were two speeches from her two heirs Princes William and Charles. Williams speech was aimed at the environment and the Queens inspiration too the environment he also praised his father Prince Charles and his late grandfather Prince Philip on their encouragement to the environment and I loved his speech as he spoke really well and it did move into the wonderful world.

Prince Charles's speech was very moving, Stephan Fry introduced Charles and his wife Camilla. He firstly called The Queen mummy which was so sweet. He also mentioned his late father Prince Philip saying that the Queens strength and stay and how he would be celebrating the jubilee in spirit. He also said that the people gets her out of bed every morning. This speech was very similar to the diamond jubilee speech at the concert, he wanted the crowd to cheer for the queen to see if she could hear the cheers all away from Windsor Castle. He did the same when Prince Philip was in hospital in 2012. 

The last thing that I found amazing was the drones in the sky, the images showed a corgi, a horse and among other things that relates with the queen. 

The last day was all about the big jubilee lunch and the pageant. The big jubilee lunch was held all around the world where the queen is head of state, Two royals went out to various events Sophie and Prince Edward was at Windsor Castle to experience the longest table street party that will hold the world record for longest table in a street party. In South London the patron The Duchess Of Cornwall and her husband Prince Charles attended a lunch people people pointed out between those two that Camilla touched his bum to get back at him on the balcony of trooping of the colour. 

The Pageant was brilliant with loads of amazing floats. In the royal box were all of the royal family apart from Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew and most notably the late queen. The then Prince Charles was representing him. He was also on grandpa duties he had little Prince Louis on his knee enjoying the floats and acts. At the end of the day it was the Late Queen’s balcony appearance it was Charles who encouraged her to appear on the balcony. 

She appeared on the balcony with Charles, Camilla, William, Catherine and their children. To say it was emotional was an understatement, the national anthem played out load and everyone sang loudly and everyone on the balcony were almost in tears. 

Looking back on the jubilee it was clear that the royal family knew that this would be the last and biggest celebration of Her Late Majesty The Queen judging the emotion that was expressed during the weekend. As a nation I expect we’re absolutely delighted that we celebrated this milestone with our late queen.