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Claims the Royal family is snubbing Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral
have been dismissed by a former royal insider.
Dickie Arbiter, who spent 12 years working as a Royal spokesman at
Buckingham Palace, says no offence was intended or should be
taken.
Ever since the PM announced no Royal would be coming, some have labelled it a snub, while others dismiss it as perfectly understandable.
"A member of the Royal family or the Queen not attending is not a snub...its newspapers looking for a story," says Arbiter.
Arbiter is one of Britain's best-known royal commentators.
"It's the Queen's personal choice that she feels that the Governor-General as the de-facto head of state representing her in New Zealand is the right person to attend," says Arbiter.
He also points out the significance of the Queen offering the Hillarys' a service at the Royal Chapel of St George's in Windsor.
"She is giving a memorial service with the family in attendance with an audience afterwards, which will probably no doubt involve a cup of tea to the family and that is totally unprecedented," says Dickie Arbiter.
But National's John Key has described the Royals' decision as disappointing.
"The nation has great fondness and affection for Sir Edmund and it would have been a lovely touch had one of the Royals been here for what will be such a special occasion and hopefully such a wonderful farewell to a remarkable Kiwi," says Key.
And many website comments on both sides of the world tilt against the Royals, with some of it being particularly vitriolic, accusing some of the Royals of being parasites and layabouts.
Others however say the offer of a private service is acknowledgement enough.
But most of those mourning the passing of the great Kiwi do not care who attends or not because come Tuesday it is hoped it is Sir Edmund Hillary who will be the centre of attention.
