Different in Australia
But the difference is in the flags: the point you were responding to concerned, not your or our national flag, but the royal standard, which only flies where the monarch is in residence. Since there should always be a monarch, if it is flown it can never be at half-mast.
Perhaps already mentioned here, but Philip was one of the few remaining participants of the the Battle of Cape Matapan.
There’s a story that shortly after Victoria died, Edward VII was getting on a boat and the royal standard was flying at half mast. He commented on it, and the captain said, “The Queen has died.”
He replied, “The King lives.”
Captured flags can also be thrown to the ground in a gesture of contempt: https://www.rbth.com/history/328191-8-amazing-facts-about-parade
And on a lighter note:
I saw scenes from the funeral. QE2 has looked old for a while but that was the first time I’ve seen her look frail.
I think the black outfit and grief-stricken expression had a lot to do with that - she’s usually smiling, and in a bright, colorful outfit. I don’t think I can recall seeing her in black before.
I saw it suggested a long time ago that she normally wears body armor in public. If that’s the case, then not wearing armor is automatically going to make her thinner.
I have never read anything so daft.
What’s so daft about someone who is a political target wearing body armor? Some of her relatives and husband’s relatives have been targeted and killed by terrorists, it’s far from a theoretical threat.
I doubt she would wear it all the time, but it’s not an outlandish notion that she might do so.
It’s really fucking heavy. She’s old, and has been for twenty years. There’s no way she’s wearing body armour on her many other appearances in public.
To clarify this, the British have a odd idea- officially it is Royals, Peers and Commoners. But there are also also Knights, gentlemen, esquires, lords, ladies, etc all of whom would not normally be considered “commoners” in any other nation with royalty and nobility. IIRC there are some viscounts who arent Peers and thus are 'commoners".
Soft armor (blast protection) from ~5lb. On your shoulders and hips, not in your hand. Heavy, but not really fucking heavy It wouldn’t protect her from a knife attack, but that’s what close protection is for.
Viscounts aren’t commoners. That’s not a nitpick - it’s kinda important in British politics.
It’s basically people who could be in the House of Commons and people who could sit in the House of Lords. The latter used to be the more powerful one, but that changed over time.
I was in the middle of typing a post and accidentally clicked enter, and it posted, so I deleted it… I think. Apologies.
Anyway, Viscounts aren’t commoners (though they are very good biscuits). This is kinda important because Tony Benn, the British politician, was initially the second son of a Viscount, and was allowed to be elected as an MP, in the 1950s. Ten years later, after the death of his older brother, he became a Viscount and was thus not permitted to be an MP. He fought against this, and finally won the right for peers to renounce their peerages, so that he could continue as an MP.
Baronets are commoners. That might be what you’re thinking of.
The vast majority of people in the UK don’t know or care about this and were baffled about Diana, the daughter of an earl, being called a commoner.
I tried some on a few years ago and found it really heavy to wear. I’d imagine it’d be harder for an older person.
The other members of the royal family definitely never look like they’re wearing body armour - they’re all pretty lean - and they’re targets too.
I am sorry yes, not Viscounts, there are barons who arent Peers.
Remember, the title doesnt mean there are a Peer. They are a Peer… if they are a Peer. Not are titled aristocrats are Peers.
The House of Lords is smaller than it used to be. The House of Lords Act of 1999 cuts it down to only 92 hereditary Peers. Several hundred were excluded.
Barons are peers and the HoL is chock full of new ones.
Baronets aren’t peers.
Specific titles do tell you if someone is a peer, so I’m not sure what you mean.
There are Dukes that arent Peers, since the Royal Dukes, etc cant be Peers, IIRC.