# Breaking - The Queen is unwell (has died): 8 Sep 2022

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Tags:** breaking-news\
**Created:** [September 8, 2022, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212 "2022-09-08T11:49:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 19

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/361 "2022-09-09T18:14:49Z")

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We’ve got several ex-PMs in Canada (Clark, Mulroney, Campbell, Chrétien, Martin and Harper) and I don’t know if all of them would get invites, if space is limited. However, if any of them do, it will be Chrétien. He and the Queen got along very well, and she appointed him to the Order of Merit on his retirement. That is one of the few orders where the monarch decides personally on appointments, no political advice, and membership is limited.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/362 "2022-09-09T18:24:12Z")

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Worth a read, I’d say:

> **[As King Charles III takes the throne, big changes lie ahead for the royal...](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/09/uk/royal-family-king-charles-iii-intl-gbr/index.html)**
>
> God save the Queen, long live the King. The second Elizabethan age has come to an end and the royal family will now regroup around a new monarch for the next era in British history.

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**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/363 "2022-09-09T18:28:59Z")

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> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> william is now prince of wales, **cathering** the princess of wales.

Is that what they’re calling it nowadays?

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**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/364 "2022-09-09T18:32:33Z")

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oh dear! oy! apologies to hrh the princess of wales!

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/365 "2022-09-09T18:48:06Z")

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> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#):
>
> There probably won’t be a lot of space for anyone after her extended family, politicians from across the UK and the commonwealth, members of the institutions she headed up and was involved with, household staff, royalty from other nations, religious leaders, representatives of all the various charities she was involved with etc etc etc.

No doubt about it. I was thinking that more than a few VIPs would be paying their respects outdoors during the procession or somewhere else. The service inside St. Paul’s one thing but there is a procession afterwards, I believe. I’m not sure how attendance at her burial itself will be handled.

…

Out of curiosity, I looked around a bit to see who was attended King George VI’s funeral. **[The _London Gazette_ reported](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_George_VI#Guests)** on the many family members (many members of European royalty), foreign monarchs, and foreign world leaders. I don’t imagine that list is exhaustive.

EDIT: I was interested to learn that Harry Truman did not attend – US Secretary of State Dean Acheson attended in his stead.

…

I wonder if anyone from the arts and entertainment worlds will be in St. Paul’s. At the level of Elton John, Maggie Smith, Paul McCartney, Judi Dench, etc.

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**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/366 "2022-09-09T19:14:47Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> When, say, the ambassador from the Solomon Islands says they want to attend, who tells them, “Sorry, there’s no room”?

The Solomon Islands is a Commonwealth realm (i.e., Elizabeth was head of state, so Charles is King of the Solomon Islands, at least for now). They will DEFINITELY have a representative, or more likely a small delegation.

More generally, every country with whom Britain has diplomatic relations will be invited to send a representative or two, and the country itself can decide who to send as their official emissary. Others will be invited on the basis of personal or familial ties.

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/367 "2022-09-09T19:20:06Z")

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> [@slash2k](#):
>
> More generally, every country with whom Britain has diplomatic relations will be invited to send a representative or two, and the country itself can decide who to send as their official emissary

Well, Britain has diplomatic relations with Russia, and I’m sure steps will be taken to avoid the presence of a delegation from Moscow. Just earlier this year, days after the invasion of Ukraine, the late Queen [cancelled](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60541528) an entire reception because the Russian ambassador would have been there.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/368 "2022-09-09T19:26:18Z")

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And even if there were unlimited space, everyone invited will need a security clearance. There are going to be a LOT of potential political targets there.

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/369 "2022-09-09T19:41:29Z")

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> [@bordelond](#):
>
> I wonder if anyone from the arts and entertainment worlds will be in St. Paul’s. At the level of Elton John

Can’t wait to hear his rendition of “Lizzie and the Jets”.

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**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/370 "2022-09-09T19:41:57Z")

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> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> william is now prince of wales, cathering the princess of wales.

I wonder if/when King Charles III will create Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh.

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/371 "2022-09-09T19:44:45Z")

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Probably not until after the funeral, and possibly not until after his own coronation. Coronations have historically taken about a year to organize.

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/372 "2022-09-09T19:48:22Z")

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> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> I wonder if/when King Charles III will create Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh.

I don’t know how these things work but my sense of symmetry insists that Camilla should be the Duchess of Edinburgh.

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**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/373 "2022-09-09T19:53:51Z")

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I just read that he has already created William Prince of Wales, so maybe he will elevate Edward sooner, rather than later.

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**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/374 "2022-09-09T20:08:55Z")

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The North Korean ambassador [attended William’s wedding in 2011](https://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/dprk-ambassador-attends-william-catherine-nuptials/) as an invited guest; in 1981, the [Spanish king boycotted Charles’s wedding to Diana](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/22/Spanish-king-snubs-royal-wedding/6574364622400/) in protest over their plan to begin their honeymoon in Gibraltar, but the Spanish ambassador still showed up. (The Soviet ambassador was there too, despite the situation in Poland at the time.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/375 "2022-09-09T20:35:16Z")

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> [@bordelond](#):
>
> **Sage\_Rat** ’s post about Israel above is interesting, and Netanyahu would be another leader I wonder about.

Netanyahu is not the Prime Minister, at least not for the moment.

Anyway, if any Israeli leader is invited, it’ll probably be President Yitzhak Herzog. Going to these kind of things is the President’s job.

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/376 "2022-09-09T20:36:19Z")

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> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#):
>
> I don’t know how these things work but my sense of symmetry insists that Camilla should be the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Even if he made her Duchess of Edinburgh (which he could), she wouldn’t use that title since her (new) title as Queen Consort, coupled with the courtesy style of Her Majesty, would outrank that of a duchess. Things were different with Philip, who held no higher ranking title and therefore went by that of Duke of Edinburgh.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/377 "2022-09-09T21:26:50Z")

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> [@Alessan](#):
>
> > [@bordelond](#):
> >
> > **Sage\_Rat** ’s post about Israel above is interesting, and Netanyahu would be another leader I wonder about.
> 
> Netanyahu is not the Prime Minister, at least not for the moment.

Understood, but I had originally asked whether former world leaders might receive invitations. I didn’t make that clear when referencing Netanyahu later.

…

Was listening to CNN Radio on the way home, the Jake Tapper Show to be specific. About 3:20 p.m. CDT, reporter Kaitlan Collins came on to report about Joe Biden’s expected attendance at the Queen’s funeral. Collins reported that the UK doesn’t send invitations to individuals in other countries (excepting extended family in European royal houses). Instead, invitations are extended at the national level: the US will get an invite, France will get an invite, Thailand will get an invite, etc. Sometimes nations send one person to represent their country. Sometimes a small contingent is sent.

She didn’t say whether or not these nation-level invitations capped the size of the contingent. Looking at the attendee’s at George VI’s funeral (linked above) and Winston Churchill’s 1965 funeral (**[link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Winston_Churchill#Dignitaries)**), it appears at least some nations will send more than one person.

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**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/378 "2022-09-09T23:10:25Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> who tells them, “Sorry, there’s no room”?

I’m sure they have plenty of practice telling people there’s no room.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/379 "2022-09-09T23:11:50Z")

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> [@Schnitte](#):
>
> > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#):
> >
> > I don’t know how these things work but my sense of symmetry insists that Camilla should be the Duchess of Edinburgh.
> 
> Even if he made her Duchess of Edinburgh (which he could), she wouldn’t use that title since her (new) title as Queen Consort, coupled with the courtesy style of Her Majesty, would outrank that of a duchess. Things were different with Philip, who held no higher ranking title and therefore went by that of Duke of Edinburgh.

Yeah, queen consorts have always just been known as the queen.

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**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/380 "2022-09-09T23:39:23Z")

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> [@Schnitte](#):
>
> Even if he made her Duchess of Edinburgh (which he could), she wouldn’t use that title since her (new) title as Queen Consort, coupled with the courtesy style of Her Majesty, would outrank that of a duchess. Things were different with Philip, who held no higher ranking title and therefore went by that of Duke of Edinburgh.

How could you forget that Philip was a royal prince?

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