Prince Philip's funeral: 13.6 million watch ceremony in UK

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Why do ordinary people watch these state funerals ?

The mad old Greek, Lady Di , Thatcher

Why not go for a walk with the wife and kids , go fishing , watch re runs of hawaii five O , the clangers etc

Anything but watch some vicar saying he or she was so great and a load of squaddies sweating in bearskin hats

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Perhaps its because people look at countries which overthrew their class system like Russia and China and are reminded that the grass isn't always greener.

They should probably look at a few other republics too; they might see something they like.

[Elwood Blues]

Why do ordinary people watch these state funerals ?

The mad old Greek, Lady Di , Thatcher

Why not go for a walk with the wife and kids , go fishing , watch re runs of hawaii five O , the clangers etc

Anything but watch some vicar saying he or she was so great and a load of squaddies sweating in bearskin hats

There was no vicar saying that yesterday Sludge.

Prince Philip didn't like sermons or eulogies. There were only hymns, readings and prayers yesterday

[Elwood Blues]

They should probably look at a few other republics too; they might see something they like.

Unfortunately many republics in the world turn out to become dictatorships. They probably outnumber the decent ones.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

There was no vicar saying that yesterday Sludge.

Prince Philip didn't like sermons or eulogies. There were only hymns, readings and prayers yesterday

Thankfully I took the option not to watch it

The hymns , readings and prayers etc would have finished me off

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Unfortunately many republics in the world turn out to become dictatorships. They probably outnumber the decent ones.

So, better not chance it then? What do you think would happen if we became a republic?

[William Treseder]

Serious question. If the Royal family did in time become less and less popular, would it be down to a simple national vote, whether or not to become a Republic, or is it more complicated than that?

[bobh]

I'm not surprised that viewing figures were so high.
After all, for people without Sky there was no option with blanket coverage on the bbc and itv.

[Pearcey3]

It has felt like a bit of brainwashing over the past few days with all the media coverage, the sorrow, solemn tv newsreaders etc. I made a point of going out yesterday afternoon but even then at 3pm in M&S there was a minute’s silence for him. Why? His funeral was on tv. Why do retail stores feel obliged to do this? Some of us have no interest in paying our respect to someone we didn’t respect.

[Eric Cartman]

I turned off after they managed to get the coffin up those steps

[the other bob wilson]

Yeah, it's definitely weird. Things is, there's already a big, long thread about Prince Philip and his funeral. The viewing figures are mentioned on there. LoM obviously wanted to draw further attention to them, so I'm wondering why? After all, they're not particularly impressive given the blanket coverage this event has received. So is he saying: "Look! Only 13.6 million people watched Philip's funeral!" Or is he saying: "13.6 million people watched Philip's funeral - isn't that amazing?" Or maybe he's trying to say something else?

I think we should be told.

Life on Mars is a great one for “balance”, so I’m pretty confident that it’s because he thinks they’re impressive. Why he should be impressed when for every one in the UK who watched it, there were between three and four who didn’t is more of a mystery.

[Elwood Blues]

So, better not chance it then? What do you think would happen if we became a republic?

It may well happen one day.

Not in my lifetime ( I am 67).

And it may all go very well.

But it will not necessarily be the Utopia that Tuerto and others looking forward to

[Tuerto]

It may well happen one day.

Not in my lifetime ( I am 67).

And it may all go very well.

But it will not necessarily be the Utopia that Tuerto and others looking forward to

Why are you name checking me, you don't know what I want. That's upset me.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

So, better not chance it then? What do you think would happen if we became a republic?

We could end up like the Federal Republic of Germany.

[splott parker]

We could end up like the Federal Republic of Germany.

Haven’t we had a German royal family for quite a few years

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Haven’t we had a German royal family for quite a few years

Germany hasn't had a royal family for over a century.

[Jordi Culé]

Life on Mars is a great one for “balance”, so I’m pretty confident that it’s because he thinks they’re impressive. Why he should be impressed when for every one in the UK who watched it, there were between three and four who didn’t is more of a mystery.

Is it because he's as stupid as fuuck?

[xsnaggle]

Germany hasn't had a royal family for over a century.

The Kaiser was still alive at the start of WW2. The only reason he wasn't the head of Germany was because it was part of the treaty of Versailles. He was sent into exile in Holland and when they capitulated in WW2 the first thing Hitler did was send a battalion of SS Troops to mount a guard of honour on his house.
And if you ever saw Queen Elizabeth in Germany you'd have no doubt that they consider her their queen too, stupid as it seems.

[The Bloop]

Probably would have been more if he'd died before non-essential shops had reopened.

[splott parker]

Germany hasn't had a royal family for over a century.

I know, they live in Buckingham Palace

[Taunton Blue Genie]

The Kaiser was still alive at the start of WW2. The only reason he wasn't the head of Germany was because it was part of the treaty of Versailles. He was sent into exile in Holland and when they capitulated in WW2 the first thing Hitler did was send a battalion of SS Troops to mount a guard of honour on his house.
And if you ever saw Queen Elizabeth in Germany you'd have no doubt that they consider her their queen too, stupid as it seems.

I used to live in Germany and I have maintained links with that country for over 45 years and I still listen, watch and read German media regularly - and I'm pretty certain that the average German considers no such thing.

[Elwood Blues]

I'm not surprised that viewing figures were so high.
After all, for people without Sky there was no option with blanket coverage on the bbc and itv.

BBC2? Channels 4 and 5?
Freeview?

[Dave Blue]

You're a funny one is you. Right wing politically, a royalist it seems, yet you've said on here on occasion that growing up, you didn't have a pot to piss in, quite extreme poverty if i'm correct, a tough innings. You have my sympathy. Yet you champion those politically and an institution that belongs to an establishment which either directly or indirectly contributed towards your poverty, through the class system that they crave. You can obviously think what you like and align yourself to whoever or whatever you want, but can't you make the distinction between your situation historically and the the kind of people you support politically?

Obviously not.

[xsnaggle]

I used to live in Germany and I have maintained links with that country for over 45 years and I still listen, watch and read German media regularly - and I'm pretty certain that the average German considers no such thing.

I did too and I believe they do, and I have seen them turning out to see her when she visits, far far more people than her in UK

[Taunton Blue Genie]

I did too and I believe they do, and I have seen them turning out to see her when she visits, far far more people than her in UK

According to a 2015 survey carried out by 'Stern' only 9% of the Germans questioned opined that they would want a royal Head of State.