Stéphane Bern: “We retain the emotion of Meghan Markle. But maybe she is also a very good actress.

Under the protocol, emotion will sometimes have surfaced: from the tears of King Charles III to that, unique, of Meghan Markle, from the images of Prince George to Princess Charlotte, wise great-grandchildren of the sovereign, to that Princes Harry and William, enemy brothers gathered behind his coffin... September 19, 2022 will go down in British history, and that of the royal family, as the symbol of a rediscovered unity, after the recent tremors of the " Megxit” or the involvement of Prince Andrew in the Epstein affair.

All this, via a skilful dosage of pomp, strong images and skilfully distilled small gestures.

Stéphane Bern, specialist in crowned heads, looks back on this day.

In video, Princess Charlotte reminds Prince George of protocol during the funeral of Elizabeth II

Madame Figaro .- What image will you keep from the funeral of Elizabeth II?

That of the crowd, of people.

This crowd that went to Windsor, and not only.

The 300,000 people, at least, who went to pay their last respects and gather in front of the queen's coffin.

There's Prince George and Princess Charlotte, too, her two great-grandchildren.

The image of a reunited family.

Sobriety, the tribute of the army.

Finally last image which touched me: these two dogs which waited, in Windsor, to see the coffin of their mistress pass.

Read alsoOn the steps of Windsor, the queen's corgis, Sandy and Muick, also say goodbye to their mistress

The day took place according to a very strict protocol, very heavy, followed to the letter.

Did she still manage to humanize the royal family?

This I do not know.

I would perhaps have hoped for gestures that reflect the way in which one behaves when one is a father, when one is a child who has lost his mother.

So yes, what humanized the royal family were the tears of the king, the tears of his brother, the Earl of Wessex.

That was very touching.

But I happened to be in their place: in these cases, you want to take others, your children in your arms.

To get out of protocol a bit.

But they have such a sense of duty that they forbid themselves to do so.

One of the stakes of this funeral, in terms of image, was to prove to what extent unity is restored in the royal family.

Is the bet successful?

It's a front unit, anyway.

We know that behind, there are still acrimonies.

In video, the eight grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II gathered around her coffin

Truce behind the scenes

Can we think that this moment was the occasion of a truce between Harry and William, or at least of a rapprochement?

More than thinking: it's a fact.

They spoke to each other, called each other, they saw each other, they had 11 days to do so.

Then, we were overzealous: the story of the initials of Elizabeth II being removed from Harry's uniform, for example, is the overzealousness of zealous officials, of footmen who thought they were doing the right thing when no one asked nothing of them.

Meghan Markle may also be a very good actress.

Stephane Bern

But nothing has transpired of their possible rapprochement during the ceremony.

Is this again extreme respect for protocol?

In a way to protect themselves from the media?

It's true that we don't see anything, but that's something else.

I think it's also about the queen's legacy.

Elizabeth II succeeded, beyond her death, in uniting the family.

For her, they are bound.

But I think they had the opportunity to talk with each other.

Things can work out.

But I am still optimistic.

Will the ceremony succeed in erasing

the supposed rivalry

I wouldn't say that they were friendly with each other, but in any case, on the face of it, there was no longer that antagonism, that distrust that we felt before.

I found that there was rather a good relationship between them.

Especially when they went out together in front of Windsor Castle, to contemplate the objects left in tribute to the queen, and to greet the crowd.

And at the funeral?

We retain the emotion of Meghan Markle, anyway, and her little tear.

Now, maybe she is also a very good actress.

Read alsoMeghan Markle at the funeral of Elizabeth II: the tear that divides

A message of continuity

Why was the presence of Prince George and Princess Charlotte important?

It's very important because it's a projection for the future, a message that we send to the entire population: the future is embodied, continuity is assured, there is a kind of durability.

All this does not stop at the queen.

They are also a valuable asset in a ceremony which was also a communication operation for the royal family.

Of course, but not only.

I think the family worked for history, so that the memory of this funeral will stay with them forever.

May they remember this day, their great-grandmother whom they loved.

What constitutes above all a promotional operation are these 11 days.

England was the capital of the world.

We only talked about that.

Read alsoTwo children in history: George and Charlotte of Wales, 9 and 7, solemn at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

If we talk about continuity, what can we say about the position of Kate Middleton and Prince William?

In any case, their attitude at the funeral?

It testifies to their realization that they are next.

They are perfect.

A bit too much ?

No, you can never be too perfect when you're part of the royal family.

Because we're here to make people dream, so that they love you.

You must lead by example.

In video, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: chronicle of an announced disgrace

Read alsoKate Middleton more majestic than ever at the funeral of Elizabeth II

What do you think are Charles III's next family challenges?

He must try to calm things down with his son Harry, then establish himself as the head of the family.

And as head of state.

A difficult task?

No, he's going to benefit from the momentum of the funeral.

People are legalistic: in 10 days, Charles III doubled his popularity rating.

He's the king.

So we're still going to love it.