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malaise

(267,808 posts)
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 07:30 PM Apr 2013

Oh dear- We are not amused-Thatcher funeral's military pomp raises concerns at Buckingham Palace

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/11/thatcher-funeral-pomp-concerns-palace
<snip>
Buckingham Palace raised concerns about the ceremonial funeral with military honours for Lady Thatcher that is to be attended on Wednesday by the Queen and more than 2,000 guests including every surviving British prime minister, the Guardian understands.

As invitations were sent out to world leaders, including all surviving US presidents and Hillary Clinton, it emerged that concerns were expressed at the highest levels about whether it is appropriate for such a controversial figure to be escorted on her final journey by more than 700 military personnel.

In discussions about the funeral held over recent years, it is understood that questions were raised by senior figures about whether it is right to associate the military with such a divisive figure, according to a well-placed Whitehall source.

It is understood that there were fears that the British tradition, in which the monarchy rather than politicians are associated with ceremonial aspects of the military, could be called into question. Thatcher's coffin will be drawn on a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from St Clement Danes church – the church of the Royal Air Force in the Strand – to St Paul's cathedral.
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In a strange way Cameron is digging his own political grave. I'm lovin' it
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Oh dear- We are not amused-Thatcher funeral's military pomp raises concerns at Buckingham Palace (Original Post) malaise Apr 2013 OP
How about a more fitting tribute, putting her head on a pike on the Tower Bridge, like Cleita Apr 2013 #1
LOL malaise Apr 2013 #6
Yes, they certainly had their charms Cal Carpenter Apr 2013 #7
"Formers" should have a scaled back funeral SoCalDem Apr 2013 #2
The worst part of this madness is that malaise Apr 2013 #4
Race to the bottom. Manifestor_of_Light Apr 2013 #3
That makes sense malaise Apr 2013 #5
It does sound excessive, but compared to reagan's week-long odyssey femmocrat Apr 2013 #8
Lots of complaints about protocol violations malaise Apr 2013 #9
"Wonder how it compares to past PM's funerals." Denzil_DC Apr 2013 #10
going out like saint ronnie spanone Apr 2013 #11

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
1. How about a more fitting tribute, putting her head on a pike on the Tower Bridge, like
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 07:34 PM
Apr 2013

they did to traitors or those who fell afoul of the crown back when? One does miss the good old days.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
3. Race to the bottom.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 07:49 PM
Apr 2013

She destroyed jobs and whole industries.
How about a cheap cut-rate funeral director with a casket made in China???

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
8. It does sound excessive, but compared to reagan's week-long odyssey
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 08:06 PM
Apr 2013

across the US, this is shorter at least.

Wonder how it compares to past PM's funerals.

Denzil_DC

(7,187 posts)
10. "Wonder how it compares to past PM's funerals."
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 08:19 PM
Apr 2013

The only thing to compare was Winston Churchill's funeral in 1965, which was a grand send-off (much, much grander than what's going to happen next week) for a man some regarded as a war hero. The funerals for ex-Prime Ministers since have been much more low-key and less tacky.

The way things are going, I'm surprised they'll be able to muster 700 servicemen.

This is looking more and more ridiculous. They called Parliament back for a special session to "debate" Thatcher's legacy at enormous expense, and even the Speaker of the House wasn't happy about it and would have preferred it to happen next week when they'll be in session anyway.

It feels like Cameron's trying to use this as a distraction from the terible state his government's in and drum up some of that old Falklands spirit - the probable implication being that if you're against it, and especially if you demonstrate against it, then you're being disloyal to the troops and the memory of those who died during the Falklands, which was, after all, her finest hour.

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