# Breaking - The Queen is unwell (has died): 8 Sep 2022 **URL:** \ **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:** 43
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/841 "2022-09-19T13:09:25Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > The funeral of her grandfather George V in February 1936 took place in the rain. The crown on his coffin got wet. Wow. That’s surprising. I was very impressed at how the orb and scepter were attached somehow yet looked to be just lying there as the coffin made that long journey. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/842 "2022-09-19T13:13:32Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Wow. That’s surprising. Not really. Stiff Upper Lip and all that, it’s what we pay them for. And it’s not like the Crown is going to get rusty. We’d never get anything done in this country if we stayed home every time it rained. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/843 "2022-09-19T13:16:13Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > God Save The King!.. From now on, of course. But when it was playing as the hearse pulled away, I believe it was _God Save the Queen_ for her, for the last time… 😢 ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/844 "2022-09-19T13:51:06Z")
Then I will let you believe that, if it makes you happy 😉 I mean, the King was standing Right There, but hey. It must be very weird for Charles. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/845 "2022-09-19T13:56:12Z")
I saw a couple of the sailors who pulled the gun carriage interviewed. Nice to see a female included. I did a quick calculation. If 700,000 people stood in line to pay their respect to the Queen, that is more than 1% of the population of Great Britain. That is impressive. ---
**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 19, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/846 "2022-09-19T14:01:18Z")
That got to me as well. 70 years of singing for his mother, and now he will never sing it again. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/847 "2022-09-19T14:19:39Z")
[The Queen’s funeral in pictures - BBC News](https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-62918196) Ok… so what’s the deal with the sailors _behind_ the gun carriage with the coffin? I can see the ones in front pulling it, but there’s a formation of them behind who are similarly in train with it- are they basically keeping it from getting away? It’s clearly traditional - I saw some footage of George VI’s funeral and they had the exact same arrangement, but I didn’t and don’t understand the trailing group of sailors. Also… are those RCMP/Canadian Mounties in the ninth picture down, or some British cavalrymen who just happen to look a lot like them? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/848 "2022-09-19T14:22:13Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Ok… so what’s the deal with the sailors _behind_ the gun carriage with the coffin? I can see the ones in front pulling it, but there’s a formation of them behind who are similarly in train with it- are they basically keeping it from getting away? Yes, they’re the brakes. It’s very heavy and presumably would keep on trucking under its own momentum at the end of its route if nobody was able to yank on the other end. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/849 "2022-09-19T14:23:51Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Also… are those RCMP/Canadian Mounties in the ninth picture down, or some British cavalrymen who just happen to look a lot like them? I believe there were military from various Commonwealth realms. I saw some I think were Australian. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/850 "2022-09-19T14:34:26Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Also… are those RCMP/Canadian Mounties in the ninth picture down, or some British cavalrymen who just happen to look a lot like them? Yes, four Canadian Mounties actually led the procession through London. There were also regiments from Australia and New Zealand. ---
**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 19, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/851 "2022-09-19T14:35:32Z")
The Mounties lead the London procession. Denmark has the only reigning queen now. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/852 "2022-09-19T14:35:38Z")
I usually can’t stand the bagpipes but the bit that got me was the lone piper in the service at the Abbey. The sound of it just got more and more distant - presumably as the piper walked off into the distance. The Queen would probably have enjoyed the sound of the piper and it felt like she was departing along with the sound of the pipes. ---
**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 19, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/853 "2022-09-19T14:37:04Z")
He was her personal piper. He would play at 7 am in balmoral. We will hear from him during the service at Windsor. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/854 "2022-09-19T14:46:14Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Ok… so what’s the deal with the sailors _behind_ the gun carriage with the coffin? It also occurred to me that if something unforeseen happened and they had to pull the gun carriage in the _opposite_ direction, there would be a way to do that. I don’t know what might necessitate that, but these planners cover all bases. ---
**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 19, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/855 "2022-09-19T14:49:39Z")
Aw, the queen’s horse is awaiting her arrival, lined up with the household. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/856 "2022-09-19T14:49:49Z")
BTW, why are navy ratings the ones pulling the gun carriage and not the army or air force? ---
**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 19, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/857 "2022-09-19T14:51:30Z")
It happened with queen Victoria. She wanted horses but it didn’t work out and the navy stepped in. Now it is tradition. The corgis are awaiting her as well! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/858 "2022-09-19T14:54:42Z")
I like how they lined the route with flowers from the many bouquets people left behind. ---
**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 19, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/859 "2022-09-19T14:56:48Z")
This just in, we have the horse’s name. The horse is called Emma. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212/860 "2022-09-19T14:59:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, why are navy ratings the ones pulling the gun carriage and not the army or air force? The Royal Navy is the senior service, so it happened to be closest to Queen Victoria’s gun carriage when there was a need for alternative motive power. (Obviously there was no RAF in 1901, but today it was way in the front of the procession as it’s junior to the other services.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-the-queen-is-unwell-has-died-8-sep-2022/971212.md?page=44)