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Sinead Butler
Sep 19, 2022
Vera Lynn quoted at Queen’s funeral by Archbishop Justin Welby
Sky News
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, addressed mourners at the Queen's funeral service in Westminster Abbey, but there was one particular part of his sermon where people think he had a dig at ex-prime minister Boris Johnson.
During his address to the congregation that included the royal family and world leaders, the Archbishop recalled the promise the Queen made on her 21st birthday to dedicate her life to service - "Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen."
But a key quote from his speech has caused discussions online on whether he was throwing shade at Johnson.
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"Those who serve will be loved and remembered longer than those who cling to power and privilege are long forgotten," the Archbishop said.
This quote was shared by The Guardian's Political Editor, Pippa Crerar and has since gone viral with over 13,000 likes and thousands of reactions from people who have speculated who the Archbishop was referring to.
\u201cArchbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby: \u201cThose who serve will be loved and remembered longer than those who cling to power and privilege are long forgotten\u201d.\u201d— Pippa Crerar (@Pippa Crerar) 1663584010
Ex-PM Boris Johnson - who clung to power despite a spate of cabinet ministers quitting - was the prime suspect.
Even when he eventually resigned on July 7 this year, Johnson stayed on as caretaker PM until September while the Tory party had a leadership contest which Liz Truss won on September 5 and became the new prime minister.
The Queen appointed Truss as prime minister at Balmoral on September 6, just two days before her death.
While the Archbishop and Johnson have previously clashed when the Archbishop slammed the UK government's policy of sending some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
In his Easter sermon, the Archbishop said the plans raised "serious ethical questions" and added: "Sub-contracting out our responsibilities, even to a country that seeks to do well, like Rwanda, is the opposite of the nature of God who himself took responsibility for our failures."
Johnson hit back as sources close to the then-prime minister said he accused the senior clergyman of being "less vociferous" in their criticism of Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
\u201cWonder who he is talking about\u201d— George Tookey (@George Tookey) 1663585252
\u201c\u201cThose who cling to privilege.\u201d Was Archbishop Welby trolling Boris Johnson there? If so, respect.\u201d— Maria Aristodemou (@Maria Aristodemou) 1663583648
\u201cDid Justin Welby just have a sly dig at Boris Johnson there? \ud83d\ude05\u201d— Peter McGowran (@Peter McGowran) 1663583573
\u201cCould\u2019ve just @ Boris there \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\u201d— David (@David) 1663584839
\u201cThe transition to Archbishop of Banterbury is complete. Ice pack for Johnson, quick.\u201d— Mathew Horne (@Mathew Horne) 1663585710
\u201cBoris *cough*\u201d— L (@L) 1663584671
\u201c\ud83e\udd2b He means you, @BorisJohnson\u201d— Count Binface (@Count Binface) 1663584396
While others felt that the Archbishop's statement cast a wider net and perhaps there were a number of leaders he was referring to.
\u201cA line that has a very sharp and piercing point. Wonder whether anyone in the Abbey felt a sharp, stabbing pain\u201d— Jon Sopel (@Jon Sopel) 1663584700
\u201cWestminster Cathedral rn:\u201d— Tom Quinn\ud83d\udd4a (@Tom Quinn\ud83d\udd4a) 1663585066
\u201cApplies to a lot of people in that room\u201d— James Stevens (@James Stevens) 1663586615
\u201cTrump is definitely the latter.\u201d— Charles John Dawson (@Charles John Dawson) 1663584770
\u201cA sharp reminder to anyone in public life, service or politics.\u201d— Joe Walker \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Joe Walker \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1663590471
Some felt that the Archbishop's quote could ironically also be implied to himself and the royal family.
\u201cMany are applauding this line but I can\u2019t help but think celebrating the Queen and criticising those who \u201ccling to privilege\u201d might have worked better at a funeral that didn\u2019t have a diamond-encrusted crown.\u201d— Frances Ryan (@Frances Ryan) 1663585782
\u201cWas that a "note to self"\u201d— Karen (@Karen) 1663585688
\u201cI\u2019m assuming he\u2019s not being ironic on purpose\u201d— Henry (@Henry) 1663584628
\u201cThe Royal Family of course famous for their lack of power and privilege\u2026\u201d— Twats (@Twats) 1663588035
\u201cPaying tribute to a woman who clung to power and privilege her whole life\u201d— M\u00edche\u00e1l \u00d3 Tuathaigh \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@M\u00edche\u00e1l \u00d3 Tuathaigh \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1663588004
\u201cI see why people think this is shade at the Tories, but... this is a bishop of a vastly wealthy church that has ever decreasing followers talking about an unelected, undemocratic monarch who heads a system based entirely on privilege and birthright, so I'm not overly impressed.\u201d— Bevis Musson (@Bevis Musson) 1663585152
\u201cPretty brave of Welby to call out the royal family at the queen's funeral, but fair play to him. He's not wrong.\u201d— James McEnaney (@James McEnaney) 1663586317
Elsewhere, viewers watching the Queen's funeral service were stunned after spotting a spider on the coffin.
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