Sunday Drive: Crossing the Bar

In memory of HRH the late Duke of Edinburgh at the suggestion of my truckbuddy Tim from England, now resident in Spain:

 

This poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, written in 1889, has long been a great favorite of your Head Trucker's. 

Sunset and evening star,

  And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

  When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

    Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

    Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

    When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

    The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

    When I have crost the bar.

 -----

Funeral of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Here is the BBC broadcast in its entirety; the funeral itself begins at the 2:30 mark with the arrival of the coffin at the steps of St. George's Chapel and a minute of silence that was observed across the United Kingdom.

 

The service was very simple yet meaningful, very much reflecting the Duke's wishes and his own character. The Order of Service, with all the prayers, hymns, and readings, is here. 

A great loss to the Queen and her family; but a splendid send-off of a "true and valiant knight" whose virtues stand out in relief against the darkening backdrop of the modern world.  

My own dear parents, now long gone to their rest, were married in the same year as the royal couple; so this service touched on some tender chords in my heart.

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In Memoriam: The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 1921-2021

The announcement was posted on the gates of Buckingham Palace this morning in London:

It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

Further announcements will be made in due course.

The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.

My heart hurts for the dear old Queen, whose loss is inestimable.

The BBC has posted this short tribute to His Royal Highness:

     

Sky News reports live:

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Royal Platinum Anniversary

A new photograph of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh released by Buckingham Palace to mark their 70th wedding anniversary today.

HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary today without any public pomp and ceremony, just a quiet dinner for 150 friends and relations at Windsor Castle, their weekend country getaway. The fact of a platinum anniversary is no more astounding and inspiring than their long, unfailing life of duty and service together.

Hats off and three cheers for the royal couple. May God bless them.

A photograph of then-Princess Elizabeth and Lt. Philip Mountbatten, RN, on their wedding day, November 20, 1947.

Trooping the Colour, 2016

Embed from Getty Images

The official celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen's 90th birthday began yesterday in London with a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's cathedral; and as it happens, yesterday was also the 95th birthday of her consort, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Embed from Getty Images

Today, the annual Queen's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, took place, with the Queen taking the salute of the Coldstream Guards on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a balcony appearance with the rest of the Royal Family and a splendid fly-past put on by the Royal Air Force. The precision flying of the Red Arrows, seen at the end of the third video below, was surely a breathtaking sight to see.

The Duke at 90

Prince Philip in his studly younger days;
you can see why Elizabeth fell for him, can't you, boys?

Surely you fellas know that the Queen will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee next year - 60 years on the throne.  Your Head Trucker doesn't have too many heroes left to admire in this world, but my hat is off to Her Majesty for her quiet, gracious perseverance in what I think must be a thoroughly demanding, and often thankless, job.   To put it mildly.

Another time I will write more about the Queen but I just now came across this rather well done BBC program about her husband, who turned 90 last June, and the old boy is still going strong.   That's quite an achievement too, and I think that even if you don't really know much about him, you'll be impressed by watching this candid interview.  In Britain he has long been known for saying things that grate on some people's nerves occasionally, but your Head Trucker has an admiration for folks who - like Barney Frank and Alan Grayson on our side of the pond - aren't afraid to say where the cow bit the cabbage.  We like that kind of frankness a lot down here in Texas.

Enjoy.




Bonus: For more on the South Sea islanders who think Philip is a god, see the Wikipedia article.