What a gorgeous, special picture of the most photographed couple in the world, having (probably) climbed a 1607ft hill near Balmoral at the age of 82 and 77, respectively.
Good morning, UK brothers and sisters. Today our national grandpa is laid to rest. #ThankYouPhilip🇬🇧🇳🇿
The above pic would've been taken around August 2003 (the annual visit to Balmoral.)
Behind the cam was their favorite daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex, who would give birth to Louise on 8 November that year. Do you remember? Mum & baby could have died. Eternally thankful.🙏
Now Louise is all grown up and viewing the floral tributes displayed inside the castle grounds. Staff moved them each night from the gates, to try to discourage people from gathering during the pandemic.
Windsor Castle and the River Thames this morning.
Message on a wreath from the Prime Minister. Commonwealth countries have sent wreaths too. They're on display inside the castle grounds today.
Four hours to go. Current time in Windsor is almost 11am.
Young parents beaming with pride, 1949.
(Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, born 14 November 1948.)
The state broadcaster's TV coverage here in New Zealand will have two and a half hours lead-in time. My feelings about sitting through all that are a bit like Prince George's when he arrived in New Zealand in 2014:
This poem, and the photos, are simply brilliant.
I love it when the Poet Laureate writes something special for a great event such as this. Long may the post continue.
The Order of Service is now available at the link in this tweet:
I'll be standing for the minute's silence at 2am here in New Zealand. No doubt with tears.
And here's a link to the official livestream on YouTube. I usually have another couple of streams ready if one falls over, too.
I'm currently watching the BBC live feed at this link. ITV is another excellent channel.
Twitter crashed for me just as the funeral preamble was getting underway. Probably for the best, since I opted to focus solely on watching the funeral and not tweeting about it.
Lots of tears, here. But impressed by the deeply moving service.
The modified Land Rover hearse was great, and quintessential Prince Philip.
I'm sure he knew that the rumbling of a diesel engine in otherwise silent moments would evoke happy family memories of time off and out of the public eye.
The day after Prince Philip's funeral has me in a reflective mood, about all he accomplished in his long life. I knew more about him than most, as an avid royal watcher from way back, and I've now learned a lot more.
We shared the same values... he had more energy, though.😉
In Thread 3 I will write about the values that drove Prince Philip to achieve so much for his country, and how we can continue the work, wherever we live.
When you learn about his mother's life story, you start to see why he was such a remarkable individual.
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