OPINION: Eleven days that reminded us of who we are as a nation
Jewish News' historian Derek Taylor reflects on an extraordinary episode in British history and a once-in-a-lifetime state funeral none of us will forget.
Altogether it has been a wonderful nine days and it is only very sad that we produced such a matchless display because of the death of a Queen who countless thousands showed was very much loved and respected.
Like you, I have spent nine days worrying that something would go wrong. Would the Bearer Party get up all those stairs without stumbling? What is holding the state crown and the orb in place? With all those police in London, who is minding the shop in the provinces?
Well I don’t know about the provinces but in case you missed some of the ceremonial, nothing went wrong. No heads of state were assassinated, though President Biden is not terribly mobile and would not be my choice for throwing the hammer in the Olympic Games.
We did get a shot of the Chief Rabbi in the congregation in Westminster Abbey and perhaps it would be wise to point out that the Beth Din had approved the presence of the Chief Rabbi at a Christian service, if he was invited by the sovereign. That had been good enough for Chief Rabbi Jacobovits, Lord Sacks and now Chief Rabbi Mirvis.
The pageantry was breathtaking and if Scotland doesn’t get flooded with tourists, there is no justice.
The service included The Lord is my Shepherd, so we did contribute. As you know psalm 23 was written by King David, who was, of course, a shepherd.
The pageantry was breathtaking and if Scotland doesn’t get flooded with tourists, there is no justice. Not that Nicola Sturgeon looked as relaxed as the string of ex-prime ministers who certainly appeared to have forgotten that they represented different political parties, and chatted like old friends. The chances of another Scottish referendum leading to a vote to leave the United Kingdom would appear to have taken a hammer blow.
The military was magnificent. I have known soldiers fainting during the Trooping of the Colour, but they all stood up to a gruelling schedule without the slightest sign of a problem; remarkable.
We are told that Prince Harry’s memoirs are due to be published in the autumn. His father is now King Charles III and the country is unlikely to be as royalist for a very long time as it is now. If there was a referendum on whether to bin the book, I think the result would exceed the size of the largest majority any political party has ever managed.
The last time swords were used in battle was 82 years ago in February 1940 when the crew of HMS Cossack boarded the German freighter Altmark and used their cutlasses in the manner born.
The ceremonial of the last nine days must have given foreign tourist board chiefs their worst headache. The chance to see Balmoral, Westminster Abbey and the Changing of the Guard should alter holiday plans for countless thousands.
We certainly don’t want to give up our great traditions too soon. For instance, I haven’t ever seen so many swords. The last time swords were used in battle was 82 years ago in February 1940 when the crew of HMS Cossack boarded the German freighter Altmark and used their cutlasses in the manner born.
Another excellent result of nine wonderful days of pageantry was the reassurance we must all have got of the ability of our fighting forces. With the Russians losing badly in Ukraine in spite of overwhelming numbers, the Brigade of Guards would make mincemeat of anything put against them. Admittedly they’d have to sacrifice their red coats and busbies, but they did that in 1902 after the Boer War.
Another institution which got a real fillip was the Commonwealth and the idea of having Canadian Mounties in the procession was typical. It was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion and we won’t forget it.
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