Watching the minute-by-minute coverage of the Queen's funeral isn't for everyone, however, some viewers couldn't resist commenting on the fact that Channel 5 took a different approach to its planned programming. On Monday, September 19, Queen Elizabeth II's funeral took place, 12 days after her death was announced to the world.
Four days of lying in state came to an end early Monday morning before the Queen's state funeral began. Following the closing of Westminster Hall at 6.30am, the Queen was taken to Westminster Abbey on the state gun carriage, followed by the King, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.
King Charles III stood in line with his siblings the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex, behind the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, for a moment of silence before the journey on-foot to the historic location began.
The Prince of Wales, Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips all followed behind the coffin for the short walk to the Abbey. They were then joined by their partners and Prince George and Princess Charlotte as they followed the coffin into the Abbey for the start of the service.
Following the poignant service, the Queen’s coffin, which was flanked by people she had known well, her equerries, drawn from the military to organiser her diary, and soldiers from the Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards – soldiers she personally commanded, Charles and his siblings was followed by the monarch’s three grandsons, Peter Phillips, Duke of Sussex and Prince of Wales through London.
The royal women travelled behind in state limousines with the Princess of Wales and her children George and Charlotte with the Queen Consort and the Duchess of Sussex travelling with the Countess of Wessex. Upon arriving at Wellington Arch on a gun carriage, the late monarch was transferred into the state hearse for her final journey to her Berkshire home of Windsor Castle where a committal service took place.
While BBC and ITV had blanket coverage of the historic event, the first state funeral to be held since that of Winston Churchill in 1965, Channel 5 opted to air plenty of family-friendly movies.
It started with The Emoji Movie at 11.10am, before the classic children's film Stuart Little started at 12.25pm. Ice Age: Dawn of The Dinosaurs and the animated movie SING then followed. But those flicking through the channels couldn't help but comment on social media.
@JezFischer tweeted: "Channel 5 paying its respects to the Queen properly with The Emoji Movie!." @JordsFilm said: "The chaos in Channel 5 broadcasting the Emoji Movie when everything else is just FUNERAL FUNERAL FUNERAL. I love it." @rob_davies wrote: "Imagine working your way up the ranks at Channel Five news and thinking today will be a big day for a live broadcast but they show The Emoji Movie instead."
@englandhatepage posted: "Not the silence in the middle of the Emoji Movie." @taylvrswift echoed: "Not a two minute silence in the middle of the Emoji Movie."
Prince Louis, the four-year-old son of the Prince and Princess Charlotte, also got brought in as he was notably absent from her great-grandmother's funeral while older siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended.
@captain_az tweeted: "No sign of Prince Louis, he’s probably at the palace watching the Emoji Movie on Channel 5." @AlexJBradbury17 said: "Can only imagine that the Royal Family asked Channel 5 to show The Emoji Movie so that they could leave Prince Louis at home in front of the telly and contain the chaos."
It comes after the young royal stole the show at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year. He got everyone talking as he could be spotted pulling a flurry of hilarious faces as he joined his family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
His face was quickly used as memes as the youngster momentarily appeared disinterested in what was going on around him before struggling with the noise of the RAF flypast and adorning crowds lining the Mall. He also got in a bit of bother with his mother, the Princess of Wales, during the Platinum Pageant when he attempted to get her to stop talking by putting his hand over her mouth before sticking his tongue out.
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