“Strength, dignity and laughter: three great gifts which we honour and celebrate today.” Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey , speaking at the Queen Mum’s funeral. April 9, 2002
I have spent this morning watching the funeral of the Queen Mum. I am certainly no royalist but goodness me the English surely can do ceremonial and do it well.” — his Mum
Like most Americans, I guess, I’m far more fascinated with royalty than you Brits. Maybe in this country, where “all men are (supposedly) created equal,” there is a strange attraction to those who are not. And, having grown up Catholic, I appreciate that the purpose of pomp and ceremony is to elevate us, momentarily, from our common lives.