David Bridges
Not all of the nation was gripped to the television in reverential silence during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, as the conversations about the event on social media inevitably turned to observations about some of the quirkier elements.
Even before the event began some suggested it might be time for the royal family to give a little back to the world of football, after all the tributes paid at sporting events in the previous 10 days.
Given that they had a minute’s silence and played the National Anthem before every professional football match this weekend, it only seems fair to allow a brief five-a-side game before the funeral kicks off.
— Fancy Brenda 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (they/them) (@SpillerOfTea) September 19, 2022
Much has been made that over her long reign the Queen received 15 prime ministers, four of them in the past six years alone thanks to Conservative party leadership changes. Some suggested the sight of the nation’s former PMs didn’t indicate there had been an improvement over time.
This parade of former PMs in chronological order from Major to Johnson looks like a tableau called The Descent Of Man. #queensfuneral
— Andrew Harrison (@Nndroid) September 19, 2022
There were some expressions of concern about Prince George and Princess Charlotte having roles in such a public ceremony at a young age, and comparisons with the appearance of Prince William and Prince Harry at their own mother’s funeral in 1997. However, there was a theory as to why Prince Louis was occupied elsewhere on the day his great-grandmother was buried.
I like how Louis is considered too much of a loose cannon to have at the funeral. Not even 5 and already the Princess Margaret of his generation pic.twitter.com/jJEbtbchkE
— Madeline Grant (@Madz_Grant) September 19, 2022
Louis had, after all, provided one of the defining images of the Queen’s platinum jubilee earlier in the year.
During the service in Westminster Abbey itself, you wouldn’t have wished “dropping your notes right next to the Queen’s coffin in front of a television audience projected to be billions” on your worst enemy.
I’m calling it now: that little note that the vicar dropped is going to turn into a meme, with CSI-esque zooming in until we can see the message written on it. pic.twitter.com/w6FRnCheuh
— Juan Uys (@opyate) September 19, 2022
The arachnid cameo did not go unnoticed.
In fact, the spider benefited from better television coverage than some of the people participating in the service.
And at least the spider was actually there.
People were disappointed that the attenders weren’t getting onboard with the spirit of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which has fallen on 19 September every year since it was founded in 1995.
Its disappointing that Liz Truss isnt taking International Talk Like A Pirate Day seriously #queensfuneral
— Harry Rutherford (@CallMeHarryR) September 19, 2022
The television captions weren’t always kind to the prime minister, Liz Truss, either.
After days of odd corporate tweets – Playmobil Queen anybody? – National Rail made a late bid for glory with the suggestion everyone go down the pub after the funeral rather than actually get on their trains.
Cafes, pubs and other hospitality providers around London are expected to be open this afternoon, so please don’t rush home immediately following the State Funeral and final procession so you can continue marking this historic day and help ease pressure on the rail network.
— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) September 19, 2022
There was the eternal mystery surrounding some of the more obscure ceremonial aspects of the day.
Chess jokes inevitably got another airing.
And the question came up of why former rugby player and non-military man Mike Tindall, who is married to the daughter of Princess Anne, now has medals.
Mike Tindall in the front row? He’s an outside centre 😳
— Jake Butt 🇺🇦🔶️🟡⚫ (@JakeButtLD) September 19, 2022
The actual answer is that Tindall was wearing his MBE awarded for his contributions to rugby, and also medals for the late Queen’s diamond and platinum jubilees.
Would the Queen have appreciated people making jokes during her funeral? Well, the royal family often spoke about her sense of humour. At least she spared us this …
Maya Kensington
Ivy Caldwell
