Burial places of British royalty

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These burial places of British royalty record the known graves of monarchs who have reigned in some part of the British Isles (currently includes only the monarchs of Scotland, England, native princes of Wales to 1283, or monarchs of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom), as well as members of their royal families.

Contents

Monarchs of England (to 1603)

Pre-conquest

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
Egbert 839 Old Minster, Winchester
Bones now thought to be in one of the six mortuary caskets in Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 1736947.jpg
Æthelwulf 855 Steyning Church, then the Old Minster, Winchester
Bones now thought to be in one of the six mortuary caskets in Winchester Cathedral
Ethelwulf's tombstone.JPG
Æthelbald 860 Sherborne Abbey, Dorset Sherborne abbey.jpg
Æthelbert 866
Æthelred I 871 Wimborne Minster, Dorset Dorset wimborne minster.jpg
Alfred the Great 899Originally Old Minster, Winchester
Moved to New Minster then Hyde Abbey
His remains were lost after the ruin of the abbey following the Reformation
Hyde Abbey Gate.jpg
Edward the Elder 924 New Minster, Winchester
Moved to Hyde Abbey
His remains were lost after the ruin of the abbey following the Reformation
Æthelstan 939 Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire
His remains were lost after the ruin of the abbey following the Reformation. The tomb and effigy survived.
King.athelstan.tomb.arp.jpg
Edmund I 946 Glastonbury Abbey Glastonburyabbey.jpg
Eadred 955 Old Minster, Winchester
Bones now thought to be in one of the six mortuary caskets in Winchester Cathedral
WinchesterCathedral-west-wyrdlight.jpg
Eadwig (Edwy) 959Bones now thought to be in one of the six mortuary caskets in Winchester Cathedral WinchesterCathedral-west-wyrdlight.jpg
Edgar 975 Glastonbury Abbey Glastonbury Abbey Lady Chapel c1900.jpg
Edward the Martyr 978 Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorset
Bones reputed to be his now reside in the Church of St. Edward the Martyr, Brookwood.
St Edward the Martyr Shrine Brookwood.jpg
Æthelred the Unready 1016 Old St Paul's Cathedral
Tomb lost in the Great Fire of London, referenced as such on a plaque outside the crypt of the present church.
St Paul's old. From Francis Bond, Early Christian Architecture. Last book 1913..jpg
Edmund Ironside 1016 Glastonbury Abbey Glastonburyabbey.jpg
Sweyn Forkbeard 1014 Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark Roskilde domkirke west fassade.jpg
Cnut the Great 1035 Old Minster, Winchester
Bones now thought to be in one of the six mortuary caskets in Winchester Cathedral
WinchesterCathedral-west-wyrdlight.jpg
Harold Harefoot 1040 St Clement Danes, London St Clement Danes London April 2006 081.jpg
Harthacnut 1042Bones now thought to be in one of the six mortuary caskets in Winchester Cathedral WinchesterCathedral-west-wyrdlight.jpg
Edward the Confessor 1066Westminster Abbey. Edward was the first king buried in the church. In the 13th century, Henry III had his remains transferred to a shrine in the rebuilt abbey, in the new chapel named after him. London - Westminster Abbey Westeingang1.jpg .
Harold Godwinson 1066 Waltham Abbey, Essex (by repute) Tombe d'Harold II.jpg

Post-conquest

NameDeathPlace of burialImages
William I 1087 Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen, Normandy
His remains were destroyed in 1562 & 1793. The tomb survived.
Chevet abbHommes.JPG
William II 1100 Winchester Cathedral WinchesterCathedral-west-wyrdlight.jpg
Henry I 1135 Reading Abbey, Berkshire
His remains were lost after the ruin of the abbey following the Reformation. [1]
ReadingAbbey.JPG HenryBeauclerc Plaque.JPG
Stephen 1154 Faversham Abbey, Kent
The abbey was demolished after the Reformation in 1538 and Stephen's grave and remains were destroyed, reportedly thrown into the nearby Faversham Creek when the abbey was demolished.
Ruins Of Faversham Abbey, Stukeley, 1722.jpg
Matilda 1167 Rouen Cathedral, Normandy, France
Remains transferred from Bec Abbey in Normandy following the French Revolution.
Rouen Cathedral as seen from Gros Horloge 140215 4.jpg
Henry II 1189 Fontevraud Abbey, Anjou, France
The graves no longer exists and their remains were probably destroyed during the French Revolution. Their tombs and effigies survived.
Church of Fontevraud Abbey Henry II effigy.jpg
Richard I 1199 Richard1TombFntrvd.jpg
John 1216 Worcester Cathedral King John's tomb.jpg
Henry III 1272Edward the Confessor's Chapel, Westminster Abbey [2] Westminster.abbey.tombofhenry.london.arp.jpg
Edward I 1307 Tomb of Edward.jpg
Edward II 1327 Gloucester Cathedral Tomb of King Edward Ii.jpg
Edward III 1377Edward the Confessor's Chapel, Westminster Abbey [3] Westminster Abbey Edward3.jpg
Richard II 1400 King's Langley Priory (reburied Edward the Confessor's Chapel, Westminster Abbey 1413) Richard II Westminster Abbey London England.jpg
Henry IV 1413 Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury Cathedral - Portal Nave Cross-spire.jpeg
Henry V 1422 Westminster Abbey Henry V Westminster Abbey London England (2).jpg
Henry VI 1471 Windsor Castle (reburied in St George's Chapel 1484) St George's Chapel Garter Day.jpg
Edward IV 1483 St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Tomb of King Edward IV.jpg
Edward V 1483?Traditionally believed to have been murdered and buried secretly in the Tower of London. Bones presumed to be his and those of his brother Richard, Duke of York were unearthed in the Tower in 1674 and re-buried in Westminster Abbey four years later.
Richard III 1485 Leicester Cathedral
Originally buried across the street in Greyfriars, but the original tomb was lost when the friary was demolished in 1538. [4] The remains of Richard III were recovered by an archaeological dig in 2012 and re-interred in 2015. [5]
Tomb of Richard III, Leicester Cathedral.jpg
Henry VII 1509 Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey [6] Henry VII Westminster Abbey London England.jpg
Henry VIII 1547 St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle Coffins in the vault of Henry VIII St Georges Chapel Windsor.png
Edward VI 1553 Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey Tomb of King Edward VI.jpg
Jane 1554 St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London St-Peter-Ad-Vincula.jpg
Mary I 1558 Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey [6]
Elizabeth I 1603 Elizabeth I of England grave (left) 2013.jpg

Monarchs of Scotland (to 1603)

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
Kenneth MacAlpin 858 Iona Abbey Iona Abbey.jpg
Donald I 862
Constantine I 877
Áed 878
Eochaid UnknownUnknown [7]
Giric 889 Iona Abbey [7]
Donald II 900
Constantine II 952 Culdee monastery at St Andrews (probable) [8]
Malcolm I 954 Iona Abbey
Indulf 962
Dub 967
Cuilén 972
Kenneth II 995
Constantine III 997
Kenneth III 1005
Malcolm II 1034
Duncan I 1040
Macbeth 1057
Lulach 1058
Malcolm Canmore 1093 Tynemouth, then moved to Dunfermline Abbey [9] Dunfermline Abbey - entrance.jpg
Donald III after 1097 Iona Abbey
Duncan II 1094 Dunfermline Abbey
Edgar 1107
Alexander I 1124
David I 1153
Malcolm IV 1165
William I 1214 Arbroath Abbey [10] Arbroath Abbey2.jpg
Alexander II 1249 Melrose Abbey [11] MelroseAbbey01.jpg
Alexander III 1286 Dunfermline Abbey
Margaret, Maid of Norway 1290 Christ's Kirk, Bergen FraHolmeniBergen.jpg
John Balliol 1313France? [12]
Robert the Bruce 1329Body interred at Dunfermline Abbey
His heart was removed, taken on Crusade, then buried at Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey - Marker for heart of Robert the Bruce.jpg
David II 1371 Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh Holyrood Abbey ruin 200411.jpg
Robert II 1390 Scone Abbey [13]
Robert III 1406 Paisley Abbey Paisley abbey.jpg
James I 1437 Perth Charterhouse, Perth
James II 1460 Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh
James III 1488 Cambuskenneth Abbey [14] CambuskennethGrave.jpg
James IV 1513Probably displayed at Monastery of Sheen, London
Afterwards unknown [15]
James V 1542 Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh
Mary I 1587 Peterborough Cathedral (1588–1612) then Westminster Abbey Tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots (replica, Museum of Scotland).jpg

Native princes of Wales (to 1283)

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
Owain Gwynedd 1170 Bangor Cathedral
Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd (prince of north Wales only)1203 England?
The Lord Rhys (prince of south Wales only)1197 St. David's Cathedral
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth 1240Body interred at Aberconwy Abbey
Later (apparently) removed to Maenan Abbey; sarcophagus now found at parish church of Llanrwst
Dafydd ap Llywelyn 1246Body interred at Aberconwy Abbey;
current whereabouts unknown
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd 1282 Cwmhir Abbey
Dafydd ap Gruffudd 1283Hanged, drawn and quartered at Shrewsbury

Monarchs since 1603

(of England, and Scotland (1603–1707); of Great Britain (1707–1801); of United Kingdom (1801–present))

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
James VI and I 1625 Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [6] Tomb of King James I.jpg
Charles I 1649 St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Coffins in the vault of Henry VIII St Georges Chapel Windsor.png

Interregnum

As Lords Protector the Cromwells served as heads of state and exercised monarchical power

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
Oliver Cromwell (Protector)1658 Tyburn, London. Moved from Westminster Abbey in 1660 and dumped in a pit after posthumous execution. Reputed head buried at Sidney Sussex College in 1960.
Richard Cromwell (Protector)1712All Saints Church, Hursley, Hampshire

Restored monarchy

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
Charles II 1685 Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [6] Charles II Marker Westminster Abbey London England.jpg
James II and VII 1701Chapel of St Edmund, Church of the English Benedictines, Rue St. Jacques, Paris

(lost at the French Revolution) [16]

Mary II 1694 Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [6] Tomb of King William III and Queen Mary II.jpg
William III and II 1702
Anne 1714 Tomb of Queen Anne.jpg
George I 1727Chapel of Leine Castle in Hanover, Germany; moved from the crypt to the Welfenmausoleum  [ de ] at Herrenhausen on 5 December 1957. [17] [18] He was the last British monarch buried outside of the British Isles. Blick uber das Einfahrtsportal durch die Lindenallee von 1726 zum Welfenmausoleum im Berggarten in Hannover.jpg
George II 1760 Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey [6] Tomba di re Giorgio II.jpg
George III 1820 St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
George IV 1830
William IV 1837
Victoria 1901 Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore, Windsor Royalmausoleum.jpg
Edward VII 1910 St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle Tomb of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.jpg
George V 1936 Tomb of King George V and Queen Mary.jpg
Edward VIII 1972 Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, Windsor Royalburialground.jpg
George VI 1952 King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle King George VI memorial chapel - geograph.org.uk - 1770568.jpg
Elizabeth II 2022

Jacobite pretenders

NameDeathPlace of burialImage
James Stuart ("Old Pretender")

Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie")

Henry Benedict Stuart

1766

1788

1807

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican (see also Monument to the Royal Stuarts) Tomb of Stuart in the Vatican.jpg

Ac.stuarts.jpg

Other Royal burials (by place)

Cemetery locationCemetery imageName of royals buried thereGrave image


York Minster York Minster Cathedral (9816926305).jpg William of Hatfield (1337) Prince William's tomb - geograph.org.uk - 852091.jpg
Duchess of Kent's Mausoleum, Frogmore Kentmausoleum.jpg Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent (1861)
Royal Mausoleum, Frogmore Royalmausoleum.jpg
Prince Albert (1861) Edward, Duke of Windsor, formerly Edward VIII (1972)
St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle St George's Chapel Garter Day.jpg
Royal burial ground, Frogmore Royalburialground.jpg
St Ninian's Chapel, Braemar Braemar, Mar Lodge Estate, St Ninian's Chapel - exterior 01.JPG
Althorp The Lake at Althorp with the Diana memorial beyond - geograph.org.uk - 1174863.jpg Diana, Princess of Wales (1997)
Westminster Abbey London - Westminster Abbey Westeingang1.jpg
Peterborough Cathedral Catherine of Aragon (1536)
St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London St-Peter-Ad-Vincula.jpg
Sudeley Castle Catherine Parr (1548)
St Mildred's Church, Whippingham, Isle of Wight StMildred'sChurch Whippingham IsleOfWight.jpg Princess Beatrice (1944) and Prince Henry of Battenberg (1896)
St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, Norfolk St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.jpg Prince John (1919)
Vadstena Abbey, Sweden Vadstena klosterkyrka.JPG Queen Philippa of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1430) Philippa of Denmark, Norway & Sweden grave 2009 (1).jpg
The Royal Cemetery, Solna, Sweden Haga Friedhof 1.jpg Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden (1922) Gustaf VI Adolf, Margaret & Louise of Sweden grave 2009 (1).jpg
Ypres Town Cemetery and Extension, Ypres, Belgium. Gravestones in Ypres Town CWGC Cemetery.jpg Prince Maurice of Battenberg (1914) HH Maurice Battenberg in Ypres Town cemetery.jpg
Brunswick Cathedral, Braunschweig (Brunswick), Germany. Brunswick cathedral.JPG Caroline of Brunswick (1821)
Convent of the Visitations, Chaillot, near Paris Mary of Modena (1718)
Monastery of São Vicente de Fora (Pantheon of the House of Braganza), Lisbon, Portugal VicenteFora-IPPAR.jpeg Catherine of Braganza (1705/6)
Basilica of St Denis, Paris, France Saint-Denis - Basilique - Exterieur facade ouest.JPG Francis II of France (husband of Mary Queen of Scots) (1560) Henrietta Maria of France (1669)
El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain Monasterio de El Escorial en Madrid.jpg Philip II of Spain (widower of Mary I of England) (1598)
Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, Scotland Holyrood Abbey ruin 200411.jpg Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1567)
Church of St John, Mirow, Germany Mirow Kirche 2010-04-07 050.jpg Princess Augusta of Cambridge (1916)

Sources

References and notes

  1. "A search for bones of Henry I is planned in Reading". BBC News. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  2. Westminster Abbey Website (accessed 30 April 2015)
  3. Westminster Abbey Website (accessed 30 April 2015)
  4. An account arose that when the tomb was destroyed, Richard's bones were thrown into the River Soar. This was disproven following the recovery and identification of Richard's remains in 2012.
  5. Burns, John F. (26 March 2015). "Richard III Gets a Kingly Burial, on Second Try". The New York Times.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Abbey Tour - The Lady Chapel Westminster Abbey website (accessed 20 June 2007)
  7. 1 2 Eochaid & Giric Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  8. Ross, David R (2003). Passion for Scotland. Dundurn. p. 37. ISBN   1842820192.
  9. Malcolm III Canmore Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  10. William I Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  11. Alexander II Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  12. John Balliol Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  13. Robert II Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  14. James III Undiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  15. James IVUndiscovered Scotland (accessed 20 June 2007)
  16. See main article on James: Miller, 240; Waller, 401; MacLeod, 349. MacLeod and Waller say all of James's remains were lost in the French Revolution. The English Illustrated Magazine 's article on St. Germain from September 1903 says parts of his bowel interred at the parish church of St. Germain-en-Laye were rediscovered in 1824 and reburied. Hilliam, 205. Hilliam disputes that his remains were either scattered or lost, stating that when revolutionaries broke into the church, they were amazed at the body's preservation and it was put on public exhibition where miracles were said to have happened. Hilliam states that the body was then kept "above ground" until George IV heard about it and ordered the body buried in the parish church of St Germain-en-Laye in 1824.
  17. Helmut Knocke and Hugo Thielen (2007). Mausoleum, in Dirk Böttcher, Klaus Mlynek (Eds.) Hannover Kunst- und Kultur-Lexikon. Handbuch und Stadtführer. Springe: zu Klampen Verlag. ISBN   978-3-934920-53-8 (p.92)
  18. Weir, Alison (1996). Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy, Revised edition. Random House. pp. 272–276. ISBN   0-7126-7448-9.
  19. Westminster Abbey Website (Accessed 1 December 2014)