Cynics have found the Queen Mother’s death and funeral baffling. Why devote so much pomp and ceremony to someone who lived such a long and full life and died peacefully? For me it’s the reverse. I wish that all those I have ever loved and lost could have been sent off in such style, with a hundred pipers, a fly-past and the streets emptied of cars. This was a rare public display of mourning that allowed us to symbolise our own private emotions about bereavement.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/apr/10/queenmother.monarchy9