The other cat looks at the King

 

Having a hard time sleeping?  Yep.  Gave it up at got up in the middle of the night, as there were things happening on the other side of the planet I wanted to see.  So while I remain at home in the Central Time zone of the USA, the events described took place in London and Windsor, in the UK.

This cat was watching not just one head of state, but hundreds, arrived to say farewell to this Queen.  

Observing the foreign non-commonwealth country leaders seated before, and the prime ministers, both of commonwealth nations and past British prime ministers who served the Queen, knights of the garter, etc. seated later. Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden were brought in an hour before the service was to start.  This is not our show, fellow Americans.  

I did learn something new... what the commentators call those bands with the instruments wrapped in black!  

They were referring to them as "masked bands".  Ah-hah!  Makes a certain kind of sense.  I wonder if this is a purely British term, or if my musician relatives knew this and just hadn't shared it with me!

I'm loved the choirs, I love the King James phrasing of the Bible readings; my own cultural patterns are being honored here.  But with the reading I've done of late (blogged about that before), I have to recognize this may not be true of all who see it.  Some will have a very different lens, based on their own experience and family history.

Problematic for me was watching the sailors pulling and braking as the coffin was moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.  And then after the service, all the way to Wellington Arch.  Humans, pulling in harness... humans in harness serving as the braking mechanism, too.

Granted, they did the job perfectly, and I recognize that those serving in this capacity consider it an honor.  They are sailors.  Once upon a time, the British sailors hauled ropes to raise sails of tall ships.  It was hard, manual labor.  These thoughts occur of what a hard life that was for the sailors.  

They delivered the coffin for the start of the procession into the Abbey at precisely, to the minute, the time advertised.  Precision timing is impressive.

I watched as young George and Charlotte Wales joined the procession inside the Abbey.  George is a mere 9 years old.  I remember I was that I was 10 when President Kennedy was assassinated, and what a momentous week that was in my young life as the USA pretty much shut down for the entire week.  TV had nothing BUT that coverage on it.  The whole thing "ruined" my birthday weekend (self-centered as most children are).  I am impressed with how well these youngsters are handing the jobs they have been born into, "like it or not".

Queen Elizabeth had a hand in planning this whole show, in advance.  One of the commentators over the weekend said that she wanted no long preaching... she didn't want it to be long and dull.  She did want "angelic voices" and that was surely delivered.  There's nothing like a boy choir for angelic voices... those innocent faces, with sober duties in their performance.  Of course there was the richness of adult voices mixed in as appropriate.

I noticed young George caught in one shot, peeking over at the singing choir boys.  You have to wonder what his particular interests will be, as he grows.  His grandfather, for example, now King, is a painter.  I think I'd known that before, but re-learned it this week with all the coverage.

I have to say the procession was impressive.  I was interested when an Australian service member was interviewed on Sunday by his TV folks from "back home".  He indicated that he was thankful that with his role of marching in formation for the event, and all he had to do was watch the person in front of him, and "whenever his left foot touches the ground, so does mine".  

After the procession in London, which was HUGE, with representation from all over the Commonwealth, including the Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians... and many more, too.

After they all came to their end points at Wellington Arch, the coffin was piped off Navy duty and placed into a state Hearse for a motorcade to Windsor.  

Like so many others who might be watching, my thoughts went back to the most recent family funeral we had, and it would be that of my brother.  The way we dragged it out over more than a week, while his ashes were driven from NY State to Nebraska to be buried beside his parents... granted we didn't have military parades or bands, but the timeline, the taking a "quiet day" between the flurries of activity... I can completely understand the exhaustion on the faces of the family.

For a bit of levity in the mix, I had to smile at little Princess Charlotte, who in this photo appears to be advising her brother George... a role we've seen in her at other events.  I can see a future as a Princess Royal?  She has lots of strong women in the family as role models, including the late monarch.

One more procession with the Royal Householders, including household cavalry, another minute gun, and another tolling of the church bells.  One more short church service.  Then she will be buried at St. George's chapel alongside Phillip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, her husband since 1947.

And that hearse is going to need a bath.  Between the crowds throwing flowers as it passed and the inescapable rolling through the inevitable result of parading cavalry.

This is already borderline "TL;DR" (too long, didn't read) if not past the border, so I'll stop for now.

I'll leave it with the uncaptured image of the Queen's Corgis, that I have read will be living with Prince Andrew and Fergie.  These were a gift from Andrew to his mother, and I'm sure they will be well looked after.

Take care of yourselves, whatever circumstance you find yourself in today.  Be kind not just to others, but in meeting your own needs as well.  

Life is good.  Spark on!

🔥✨💖