Does anyone know why The Queen wasn't at The Service today for the 90th anniversary. It would have shown her respect for all who fought and for the three remaining war veterans, who were there. What are peoples feelings on this?

She was there on Remembrance Sunday (and the RBL Festival of Remembrance on Saturday) and she is 80+.

David

30 or so years younger than Henry Allingham then!

I would have expected the reigning monarch to have been in attendance , after all, it is 90 years to the day. As for her being 80+ some are much older. Has respect slipped somewhat? I personally think that today is more important than Sunday was and I'm sure many others feel the same. I'd like to know the reason for her absence,

Jon

I too would like to know why she was not there,or any other royal,i found it very disapointing, julie

My understanding of today's service at the cenotaph was that this was primarily to be for Henry, Harry and Bill to pay their respects (as well as the nation) and the Royal family were represented by Prince and Princess Michael, so as not to detract from them (Harry, Henry and Bill).

What a load of silly sanctimonious tosh. Any one over the age of 80 and still working as hard as she does can have days when some one else has to take over some of the job without daft allegations of disrespect. Yes there may have been people older that her there but it still doesn't mean that she might not have been up to it that day.

If that is the case then hers was a respectful absence.

Dave

Have to agree, she already attented Sunday and Saturday, at 80 I think she is doing well.

I still think that she should have been there

I note that the youngest of her surviving PMs didn't make it on Sunday and no one's had a pop at him.

I'm not having a pop at anyone, I'm talking about today centurion, not Sunday and who's the youngest surviving PM anyway,

Jon

So are we now compelling those who served in our armed forces to attend memorial services? Somehow, I doubt the two concerned went down the pub and got lashed instead of remembering those they served alongside...

Adrian

I thought Sunday is the official Remebrance day, sort of a state occassion. Today, is Armistice Day. Some will see today as more important than Sunday, but I think that is just the way it is. It's not so long ago that the 11th wasn't even honoured in any way (and still isn't by much of the nation) - It does though seem to be taking on more importance each though, which IMHO can only be a good thing

Steve

Some fellow called Blair or something

No. I'm talking about the reigning monarch not attending the 90th anniversary,

Jon

This is a very silly thread. The Queen represented the nation on Sunday at the official ceremony of remembrance. Today was just an historical accident that it was the 90th anniversary of the end of the war and belonged to our veterans.

BTW Prince Charles represented the nation today at the Verdun Ossiary with President Sarkozy at France's official ceremony. It was an Anglo-French war after all.

As today's Cenotaph event was a Special Commemoration of the 90th Anniversary, it seems appropriate that the Royal in attendance was the Duchess of Gloucester, Patron of the Great War Veterans' Association.
http://www.royalinsight.gov.uk/output/page...-+-&region=

Those who thought the Queen ought to have been there today will be disappointed. I always thought it was the 3 veterans who were to be the central figures and so they proved to be. Good on Henry for being a bit stubborn. If we are looking for a quality to ascribe to all who did their bit, I think we could do worse than make it stubborness, rather than heroism. What used to be known as stickativeness.

I was there - on the way to a meeting in the West End - and it was very moving. Standing near to the entrance of Downing St , the vets came past us at the end and were given a rousing reception. The weather was very kind with a warmish sun shining. Monty glowered down on us. Alanbrooke glowered towards Haig. A great occasion.

Who served in the ATS (having had one's house bombed), and her consort in the Royal Navy. Somehow I doubt that the significance of the occasion had passed them by! They also attended the official commemoration on Remembrance Sunday.

She may be the reigning monarch, but I really don't see why she should hassled for not attending an event where the focus was avowedly not on the presence of the big cheeses!

Adrian

The only royal I could see was The Duchess of Gloucester who was there in her capacity as A Patron of one of the groups involved.
Sue

I think one of one's houses, Adrian

I have no problem with Her Madge not being there: I doubt she was sitting with her feet up and fag in her hand; and as has been said, her attendance would probably have upstaged the veterans who were there.

I'm OK to have a pop at our youngest living ex-Prime Minister, if anyone wants me to - indeed, it would be a pleasure.

As you say, the Duchess of Gloucester was there in the capacity as a Patron, which may be why the cameras caught her.

The Royal family representatives were NOT there to be the focus, hence the cameras didn't highlight them.

For reference see 'HERE' and scroll down to the appropriate bit (waaaaaay down at the bottom, one line, so as not to take the limelight from the others!)

the queen of course attends on the Sunday, not only as head of country commonwealth but to lay a wreath in the name of the Nation. Today was the day for these three special men who laid wreaths because of the 90th anniversary. If the queen had attended, her presence would meant that the 3 veterans would have been in 2nd place and of course today they are in 1st place where they should be!

It was not really an occasion for the royal family to attend. This was 'their day' so far as I am concerned and I have no doubt that Her Majesty would have felt the same and whilst I am writing about it, these 3 men, when the time comes, should all be buried together in St. Pauls or Westminster Abbey. God bless them - and the queen too.

Valerie

The L/Cpl escorting one of the really old timers appeared to be sporting an MC ribbon.

Edit - That explains it!

Accompanying each of them was a member of today’s Armed Forces who has been decorated for bravery, Marine Mkhuseil Jones (Military Cross), Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry (Victoria Cross) and Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman (Distinguished Flying Cross).

What is the distinction between Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day? If anything, doesn`t Armistice Day with its traditional silence have more significance as a National Day?

Why? I very much doubt if any of them would want that. I'm sure they each have their preferences and have made them clear.

Despite the fact that one of them (Harry Patch) has said he is against any sort of a State ceremony,

are the wishes of the men themselves to be ignored?

Connaught Stranger.

No, is the straight answer.

For years, Remembrance Sunday has taken precedence: I suspect it's a 'recent' thing, set up to avoid the country stopping on a work day, and to reflect that we remember all wars, not just the GW.

Therefore, Remembrance Day is THE day: today is an optional extra. Indeed, the reinstatement of the silence at 11.00 on the 11th is very new, I believe.

If, of course, that is the wish of both them and their families - yes?

The Duchess of Gloucester was there today, I didn't see the Kents.

Michelle

Australian Rugger team? - perhaps a hangover this morning? Busy enough schedule for anyone I think :-

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page3952.asp


Monday, 10th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The Queen gave a Reception at Windsor Castle this evening for the Australian Touring Rugby Team to mark the Centenary of the first tour by an Australian touring rugby team to Great Britain....

Sunday, 9th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh laid wreaths at the Cenotaph this morning on the occasion of Remembrance Day.
Wreaths were also laid by The Prince of Wales, Prince William of Wales, The Du...

Saturday, 8th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were present this evening at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The...

Friday, 7th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: His Excellency Sir Daniel Williams was received by The Queen today upon relinquishing his appointment as Governor-General of Grenada.
Lady Williams was also received by Her Majesty.

Thursday, 6th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: His Excellency Mr. Alexandros Zenon was received in audience by The Queen today and presented the Letters of Recall of his predecessor and his own Letters of Commission as High Commissioner for the Re... more

Wednesday, 5th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, this morning opened the New Academic Building at the London School of Economics and Political Science, 54 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2, and was rec... more

Tuesday, 4th November 2008
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace this morning.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon attended a ceremony at Canada House, Trafalgar Square, London SW1, to launch... more

Norrette

Hope the Australian Rugby team didn't behave in the same way at Buck House last night as their ancestors did 90 years ago
see:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...t&p=1045234


NigelS

As it was a nice windy day she may have been doing the washing!

Shouldn't we all be there?
We all have our places and reasons not to have been. We get a better view on telly for those who are not working. The Queen is still working and perhaps also did not manage to see it but I am sure HM observed the 2 minutes along with millions of others. For these two minutes we are remembering those that gave their lives not who, how and where they are being remembered. For these two minutes we are all the same. As for the three great survivors they remember every second of their lives. Heroes.

Regards
Paul

For the very good and varied reasons expressed above (by David, Kim, centurion, Alan, Tom, Adrian and Steve): she shouldn't have been there, and her absence, far from being disrespectful, was quite the opposite.

Jim

I retract my views from previous posts in this thread, in the light of day I now fully understand the reasons that HM was not in attendance and respectfully pay homage to those who were there,

Jon

I was more annoyed that the Beeb kept referring to Ypres, France It did change after I mailed them
Officially it was decided that the Royal Familes presence yesterday would have detracted from the three Vets.
I think anyone who watched the Fest of Remembrance on Saturday would have seen the Queen standing when the War Widows entered.
The Queen has also visited the Battlefields which is more than the majority of Brits have.
sm

On the other hand she might have been carrying investitures at the Palace see:

http://tinyurl.com/fvonb

NigelS

In my minds ear I hear a womans voice on the telephone, " Is that the Governor of the Tower? Please ask the headsman to stand down, we will not be requiring his services after all .. yes one knows he'll be disapointed but ...."