Funeral of Prince Phillip

I didn't realise the Royal Vault has a lift arrangement: I assumed the coffin would somehow be carried into it. That part has never been televised before: the committal service for the Queen Mother was private.

>she appeared especially tiny, bent and vulnerable today.

She did, though it might be because she was mostly looking down and we're not used to seeing her like that in public.

I did notice Harry impatiently tapped his order of service against his leg while he was waiting to leave the chapel. :-/

I thought so too. Even if coffins were previously lowered via ropes, humans responsible for attending the space had to be able to access it so I figured there was a stairway somewhere. There probably is but maybe one that can't accommodate pallbearer interment?

The vault isn't very old (1810) and was designed to use a lift (initially the rope & pulley type). There is an access staircase but in 1817 an additional, easier staircase for visiting relatives was put in behind the altar. Electric lighting was installed in 1899. . :-)

Well, there you have it. It does sound as if the chapel is full up (did some additional reading) aside from space reserved for the Queen, and future monarchs will likely have to go elsewhere (Frogmore?) Not, of course, that I expect to be around to see what goes.

Charles is older than both of us so maybe we will find out! :-)

What with the longevity in that family, I won't hold my breath. HA!

My grandmother's two sisters did live to be 101 and 102 respectively, but also lived less, er, unruly lives than Yours Truly.