What a crying shame
 

I just had a look at the pictures of King Richard III's funeral which took place in Gloucester. I am horrified. I know the people involved have done their best but that isn't my point. Richard was King of this nation. Why wasn't he given a state funeral?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-31990721

Agreed. And they cannot even spell Cannon - but Canon - as in the Church of England or Canon Inc (Japan) features twice. Mike

He was not given a state funeral because the cost of doing so would have been prohibitive. I thought the funeral took place in Leicester?

Dave.

Maybe they fired Canon cameras???

Also a sort of gun carriage perhaps as a resut of a misquote:

"A hearse a hearse my kingdom for a hearse!"

Tim

Sorry, it was Leicester. I was thinking of his title as Richard of Gloucester.

How can a monarch's funeral be cost prohibitive? No more so than Mrs Thatcher's one would have thought. Even if the scope of it was somewhat limited given the passage of time since he died but a proper military escort from the Guards Brigade as well as the very excellent TA guys who did do the honours.

I know there's probably only a tenuous (if any) blood relationship to aunty Betty but he was an important member of the greater family of British Monarchs and that stands for more than blood. The man's contribution to the history of the monarchy cannot be denied.

I think this is a terrible scandal. That pathetic little wooden coffin, made with a the hands of a living relative I know but such a sorry sight is enough to make one weep.

What the hell has happened to protocol here? Is the local MP a man of straw?

EDIT: It should be pointed out that if I, an Irishman (albeit a loyal Queen's man) feel this way - how should the English feel?

Having just seen the report of the event on the news, I thought it was a reflection of the reality of the economic situation this country is in ,rather than the spun version of the state of the economy that the government would have us believe.

P.B.

king richard
 

A state funeral should have been given to a former king of england and in my opinion buried in westminster abbey with the head of the catholic church leading the funeral as richard was catholic.

I think Leicester was the right place to bury him. He's not going to be the only monarch who's not interred at Westminster Abbey, by a long chalk.

Just my opinion of course. Some of which others concur with and some not. The issue of Cardinal Nichols taking the service is on dodgier ground in my view. Although he was RC the entire country was then. It isn't now so perhaps the best way forward would have been to have a CofE Primate conduct the service with Cardinal Nichols in an assisting role.

Sadly - and it pains me to even articulate it - probably very little...the days when this country (the United Kingdom as a whole) had any sense of itself or indeed pride in itself have long since diminished.

I lament its passing.

What was the regiment escorting his coffin? I saw some dressed in blues wearing scarlet caps and carrying lances.

David

I thought they were Cadets but may be wrong.

Peter

I'm sure there are some who feel that way but there are enough of us interested citizens of the country to keep the flag flying.

I thought they were Yeomanry.

EDIT: I checked the cap badge and it appears to be the Prince of Wales feathers they're wearing as a cap badge. Most sources describe them as cadets. If they are they're bloody well turned out.

FURTHER EDIT: It appears they are the amalgamated Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Army Cadet Force.

What a crying shame
 

On similar track- Daily Telegraph of today has photo of the procession headed by two mounted police officers who are wearing red chequered bands around their helmets.
I thought only the City of London Police wore red chequering.Were these two redeployed from The City to Leicestershire ?

I had a hunch that somebody was going to mention that.

Well, somebody had to do it. :D