Queen Elizabeth’s funeral: viewers complain about network comment

As Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral begins, viewers have taken to social media to urge US presenters to cut back on excessive commenting.

Most of the complaints began during the procession that took the Queen’s coffin from Westminster Hall, where it has been in pageant since Wednesday, to Westminster Abbey, where the funeral will take place.

The procession, which began around 10:45 a.m. London (5:45 a.m. EST), was led by military personnel and included the Queen’s children, King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and their grandchildren Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips, who followed the gun carriage with her coffin.

One user wrote: “@CNN can we just watch the funeral without all the over the top comments? This isn’t the Macy’s Parade.” While another said, “You don’t have to be talking and commenting every minute. @CNN.”

Spiritual healer Ariaa Jagger also asked for the comment to end. Jagger wrote: “Could you please shut up and watch the funeral, we really don’t want to hear your comment. This is a lonely moment celebrating a remarkable woman with all due respect please shut up. @CNN @andersoncooper.” Followers suggested she switch to BBC America instead, which remained silent.

Over on NBC Live, the correspondents continued to chat as the procession began.

On the BBC in the UK, lead presenter Huw Edwards warned viewers that there would be no commentary during any of the processions. He was silent as the funeral procession made its way from the hall to the abbey, where the coffin was brought in. At this point he briefly remarked that the Abbey was the place where the Queen married Prince Philip in 1947 and had her coronation in 1952. Then he fell silent again.

On ITV, the presenters were also silent before making a brief comment as the coffin was brought into the abbey.

US viewers have also complained that the commercials disrupt coverage of the funeral. In a since-deleted tweet, one viewer wrote: “I had to watch a purple 14 Pro iPhone ad before I could watch the coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral @CNN and a Budweiser ad @nbc — just FYI with all the dignified talk in the States.”

Another Twitter user wrote: “Running comments and advertisements during a funeral procession is disgusting and disrespectful.”

In the UK, no commercial networks will be showing advertisements during the funeral. Those that don’t broadcast the funeral, like Channel 4, are reportedly showing shorter commercial breaks.

On CNN, where Anderson Cooper, Clarissa Ward and Max Foster head up coverage, commercials have included advertisements for Instacart, medication and hearing aids.