Elizabeth's death set in motion the most recent version of Operation London Bridge, a funeral plan first devised in the 1960s, and Operation Unicorn, the plan for the Queen's death in Scotland. Elizabeth's coffin lay at rest in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh from 12 to 13 September, after which it was flown to London, where it lay in state in Westminster Hall from 14 to 19 September. An estimated 33,000 people filed past the Queen's coffin in Edinburgh, and approximately 250,000 people queued to pay their respects in London. The United Kingdom observed a national mourning period of ten days.
Queen Elizabeth II was in good health for most of her life, but her health declined significantly following the death of her husband, Prince Philip, in April 2021.[1] She began to use a walking stick for public engagements in October 2021.[2] On 20 October, the Queen stayed overnight in King Edward VII's Hospital in central London, necessitating the cancellation of scheduled visits to Northern Ireland and the COP26 summit in Glasgow. She suffered a sprained back in November, which prevented her from attending the 2021 National Service of Remembrance.[3][4][5][6]
In February 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, the Queen was one of several people at Windsor Castle to test positive for COVID-19.[7][8] Her symptoms were described as "mild and cold-like", and she later commented that the disease "does leave one very tired and exhausted".[9][10] The monarch's health became a cause of concern to commentators at this time.[11][12]
The Queen was said to be feeling well enough to resume her official duties by 1 March 2022 and attended the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on 29 March.[13][14] Despite this, the Queen did not attend several appointments over the following months due to "episodic mobility problems", including the annual Commonwealth Day service in March, the Royal Maundy service in April, the State Opening of Parliament in May, and the National Service of Thanksgiving for her Platinum Jubilee in June.[15][16][17][18] During the Jubilee the Queen also suffered "discomfort" after standing during Trooping the Colour and was largely confined to balcony appearances during the celebrations.[19] According to her apothecary in Scotland, Douglas Glass, there had been private concerns about her health for several months before her death; he was quoted in a later biography as saying "It was expected and we were quite aware of what was going to happen."[20]
Two days before her death, on 6 September 2022, the Queen accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson and appointed Liz Truss to succeed him as Prime Minister; these meetings took place at Balmoral Castle, rather than their usual location, Buckingham Palace.[21] At the meeting with Truss, the final public photos of the Queen were taken by Jane Barlow.[22] A bruise on her hand prompted public concern.[1] Following the meeting the Queen's private secretary, Edward Young, privately informed Truss that the Queen might not live for much longer.[23] He had also previously informed Johnson that regarding her health, the Queen had "gone down quite a bit over the summer" and later told him that the Queen knew she was dying throughout that summer.[24] On 7 September, the Queen was scheduled to attend an online meeting of the Privy Council to swear in new ministers in Truss's government, but this was cancelled after she was advised by doctors to rest.[25] The Queen's final public statement, issued that same day, was a message of condolences for the victims of a mass stabbing incident in Saskatchewan, Canada.[26]
The Queen died at 15:10 BST on 8 September 2022 at the age of 96. Her death certificate, which was made public on 29 September, recorded her cause of death as old age.[1] According to her former prime minister Boris Johnson[27] and the biographer Gyles Brandreth, she was suffering from a form of bone marrow cancer, which Brandreth wrote was multiple myeloma.[28] Her death was publicly announced at 18:30.[29][30] Elizabeth II was the first monarch to die in Scotland since James V in 1542.[31][32]
Truss was informed at 16:30 that the Queen had died, and the royal family announced her death two hours later via newswires and a post on Twitter.[46][47][48][49] A notice with the same statement was affixed to the railings outside Buckingham Palace and posted on the royal family website.[50] The announcement read:
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.
BBC One continuously covered the Queen's condition from 12:40, after the first official statement; special reports were also run on ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.[51][52] British television announcements of the Queen's death began at 18:31, when news presenter Huw Edwards read the royal family's statement during a live broadcast on the BBC News channel, BBC One and BBC Two. At 18:32 the presenters of BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live made similar announcements.[52] At around 18:36 all BBC Radio stations had interrupted programming with a news report read by Chris Aldridge to announce the Queen's death.[53]
As the Queen had died in Scotland, Operation Unicorn was the first part of Operation London Bridge to take effect.[60] Her body was taken to Edinburgh, where ceremonies were held, then to London for the state funeral.
The Queen's coffin left Balmoral Castle at 10:46 on 11 September, draped with the Scottish version of the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom and topped with a wreath of flowers from the castle gardens.[c][61][62] The journey of the cortege, which included Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, was 175 miles (282km) long and passed through Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross, and Fife.[61][63] People lined the route of the cortege to pay their respects, and in Aberdeenshire farmers formed a guard of honour of tractors.[64][65] The cortege reached the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 16:23 and the coffin was placed in the Throne Room.[61][63][66] The coffin, which had been commissioned about 30 years before her death, was made from oak and was lined with lead, reportedly weighing 245kg (540lb).[67]
The Queen's coffin arrives in Edinburgh on 11 September
On 12 September the Queen's coffin was carried up the Royal Mile to St Giles' Cathedral, in a procession that included King Charles, Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, the Bearer Party from the Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Royal Company of Archers.[66][68][69][70] Queen Camilla and Sophie, then known as Countess of Wessex and Forfar, followed closely in their car.[71] Guns were fired every minute from Edinburgh Castle during the procession.[68] On arrival the coffin was carried into the cathedral, and the Crown of Scotland was placed on it.[72]
The Queen's coffin lay at rest at the cathedral for 24 hours, guarded by the Royal Company of Archers, which allowed around 33,000 people to file past the coffin.[73][77] In the evening King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward held a vigil at the cathedral, a custom known as the Vigil of the Princes; Princess Anne was the first woman to participate in such an event.[73][78]
On 13 September the Queen's coffin was taken by hearse to Edinburgh Airport and flown to RAF Northolt on a Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster, accompanied by Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence.[79] The Royal Air Force Bearer Party carried the coffin onto the aircraft and a Guard of Honour was formed by the Royal Regiment of Scotland.[80] During the journey the Scottish version of the Royal Standard that draped the coffin was replaced by the Royal Standard that is used in the rest of the United Kingdom.[81]
Lying-in-state
The coffin arriving at Buckingham Palace
Upon the arrival of the Queen's coffin in London, it was transported to Buckingham Palace, before being moved to Westminster Hall the following day for her lying-in-state before the state funeral.
When the Queen arrived at RAF Northolt the Queen's Colour Squadron (63 Squadron RAF Regiment) assumed the role of the Bearer Party and formed the Guard of Honour.[80] The coffin was placed in the state hearse and transported through London to Buckingham Palace, with people lining the street to watch.[80][82] The coffin was then placed in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace in the presence of the royal family.[e][82][83]
Life Guards with reverse arms leading the coffin in a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the lying-in-state
The Queen's coffin was taken in a military procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.[f] The King, male members of the royal family, and Princess Anne followed the coffin on foot.[g][84][85][86] This procession, as well as the other processions held later in London and Windsor, marched at the funeral pace of 75 steps per minute and was accompanied by military bands playing marches by Johann Heinrich Walch, Felix Mendelssohn and Frédéric Chopin.[87][84][88]Big Ben tolled each minute of the procession and minute guns were fired from Hyde Park by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.[84][89]
Members of the three armed forces formed a guard of honour to receive the coffin at Parliament Square, after which soldiers from the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, placed the coffin on a catafalque in Westminster Hall.[84] The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Dean of Westminster then conducted a service in the presence of the royal family.[73]
The Queen lay in state in Westminster Hall from 17:00 on 14 September to 06:30 on 19 September.[73] The coffin was guarded by members of both the Sovereign's Bodyguard[h] and the Household Division.[i][j] The Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers and foliage from Balmoral and Windsor castles had been placed on the coffin before the procession, and to these were added the Sovereign's Orb and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross; the Wanamaker Cross of Westminster was placed at its head and the regimental flag of The Queen's Company of The Grenadier Guards at its foot.[91][92] An estimated 250,000 members of the public filed past the coffin, as did politicians and other public figures.[93][94] Both the BBC and ITV offered a livestream of the Queen lying-in-state.[95][96] On 16 September, a 28-year-old man was arrested under the Public Order Act after he ran from the queue inside Westminster Hall and touched the coffin.[97][98]
In the evening of 16 September the King and his siblings held a vigil around the Queen's coffin for approximately ten minutes, and on 17 September the Queen's eight grandchildren did the same.[99][100] Prince Andrew and Prince Harry were permitted to wear military uniform on these occasions, who as non-working royals had not done so at previous ceremonial events.[101][102][99]
On 18 September, pipers at four different locations in Scotland played "The Immortal Memory" at 18:00.[103] At 20:00 a minute's silence was observed across the UK.[104]
The route of the queue along the River Thames is shown. The front was in Westminster Hall (left), and at its greatest extent the back was in Southwark Park (right).
Two queues were formed to view the lying-in-state, beginning 48 hours before Westminster Hall opened to the public.[105] At its maximum extent the main queue was approximately 10 miles (16km) long and had a waiting time of over 25 hours.[106][107] This queue attracted much media attention, with many commentators noting the stereotype that British people are good at queueing.[108][109][110][111] The accessible queue, for people with a disability or long-term condition, operated a ticket system and was therefore shorter.[112]
The queue experience was generally perceived to be positive, however there was an allegation of a man committing sexual assault by exposing himself, and some heckling of queuers.[113][114][115] The London Ambulance Service also had to assist 710 people, mainly due to head injuries from fainting.[116][117]
Signage alerting passersby about the closure of Sainsbury's and Argos stores on 19 September
Plans for the Queen's death had existed in some form since the 1960s, and the Queen was consulted about all the details included in her funeral plan.[118][119] The earl marshal was in charge of organising the event.[119]
The day of the funeral was a bank holiday in the United Kingdom.[121][122] Many businesses, workplaces, and educational establishments closed for the day, including major supermarkets and the London Stock Exchange.[126][127][128][129] In the National Health Service several trusts chose to cancel or reschedule all non-urgent appointments.[130][131][132] Several food banks announced that they would close on the day of the funeral, though some remained open after facing public backlash.[133][134] Takeoffs and landings at Heathrow Airport were rescheduled or cancelled to maintain silence during the services in Westminster and Windsor and the processions in between.[135]
Hotel prices increased in the days before the funeral in London.[136] Extra train services were made available across the country to allow people to travel to and from London and pay their respects for the lying-in-state and funeral service.[137][138][139]Westminster City Council deployed its "Clean Streets" team to clean up different areas within central London.[136]
At 10:44 on 19 September the Queen's coffin was moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.[140] The carriage was drawn by Royal Navy sailors, known as Naval Ratings, maintaining a tradition which began with the state funeral of Queen Victoria.[141] The King, members of the royal family, and members of the King's household walked behind.[142][121][143] Non-working royals, including the Duke of York and the Duke of Sussex, did not wear military uniforms for the state funeral and the committal service. A wreath with foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Highgrove House, and Clarence House was placed on the coffin, together with a note from the King which read "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."[k][144] Before the service the tenor bell of the Abbey rang once a minute for 96 minutes, once for each year of the Queen's life.[145] The coffin arrived at Westminster Abbey at 10:52.[146]
The end of the service included a sounding of the "Last Post" and a two-minute silence, which was concluded with the "Reveille".[146] The playing of God Save the King, followed by the bagpipe lament "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep", marked the end of the ceremony.[145] The Queen's coffin was carried out of the church to the music of Bach's Fantasia in C minor. When the guard entered the crossing, the mood of the music changed from C minor to E flat major until the coffin was pulled from the catafalque. When the guard turned the coffin, the mood also changed back to minor. The "Allegro maestoso" from Elgar's Organ Sonata in G was played after the service.[147]
Processions in London and Windsor
Representatives from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during the procession to Wellington Arch
Two processions followed the service. The first was from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, where the Queen's coffin was placed in the state hearse. From there it was transported to Windsor, where the second procession took place through Windsor Great Park.
The procession in London began at 12:15 and included around 3,000 military personnel, stretching for over a mile. It began at the abbey and passed down Whitehall, through Horse Guards, up The Mall, past Buckingham Palace, and up Constitution Hill to end at the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. Around a million people lined the streets of central London to watch the event.[150]
At the front of the procession were representatives of Commonwealth forces led by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on horseback, then representatives of the Royal Air Force, the British Army, and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, followed by defence staff and armed forces chaplains, officers of arms, and the royal household.[151] The Queen's coffin followed, again on the State Gun Carriage pulled by Royal Navy sailors, and surrounded by an escort party.[151] The King and royal family members were next, some marching and some in cars, with a further escort and the household of the former Prince of Wales behind.[151] At the rear of the procession were representatives of civilian services.[151]
The King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips, the Earl of Snowdon and the Duke of Gloucester walk behind Queen Elizabeth II's coffin. Sir Timothy Laurence was also in the procession but is not seen in the photo.
Seven military bands were dispersed through the procession and again played funeral marches.[151][152] Big Ben tolled each minute and minute guns were fired from Hyde Park by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.[146] Standards were lowered and those in the procession gave salutes as they passed the Cenotaph. At Buckingham Palace, the King's Guard gave a royal salute to the Victoria Memorial and Palace staff waited outside the gates.[140] At Wellington Arch the coffin was transferred with a royal salute to the state hearse for the journey to Windsor.[146] The hearse left London for Windsor at 13:30, accompanied by Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence, travelling on A roads rather than motorways to allow the public to line the route.[153][154]
At 15:00 the hearse with the Queen's coffin arrived in Windsor, where a final procession involving 1,000 military personnel took place.[121] The procession began from the Shaw Farm Gate on Albert Road[155] before turning onto the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle.[156][146] Around 97,000 people lined the route.[156][150] The Queen's fell pony, Emma, and two royal corgis, Muick and Sandy, stood at the side of the procession.[157] The King and the royal family joined the procession in the Quadrangle, during which the Sebastopol Bell and the Curfew Tower bell tolled and the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, fired minute guns from the East Lawn of the castle.[146] At the end of the procession the coffin was taken to St George's Chapel via the West Steps with the guard of honour formed by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.[146]
Committal service
The committal service began at 16:00 in the presence of 800 guests, largely made up of the royal household and staff from the Queen's private estates, but also including the royal family, governors general and prime ministers from the Commonwealth realms, and members of foreign royal houses.[121][146] The Choir of St George's Chapel led the music, which included the Russian "Kontakion of the Departed", also sung at the funeral of Prince Philip.[o][158] A selection of music was also played before the service.[158][159][p]
David Conner, Dean of Windsor, who conducted the service, read the bidding, the readings, and the commendation.[121][158][159][146] The first reading was Revelation 21, verses 1–7, which was also included in the order of service for the funerals of Elizabeth's grandparents and father.[158] The Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park delivered the prayers, and the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the concluding blessing.[146]
Near the end of the service the Imperial State Crown, orb, and sceptre were removed from the coffin and placed on the altar.[119][146][158] The King then placed the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on his mother's coffin, before the Lord Chamberlain symbolically broke his wand of office and also placed its halves atop the coffin.[146][159] After this the Garter Principal King of Arms recited the styles of Elizabeth II and Charles III, between which a lament – "A Salute to the Royal Fendersmith" – was played by the Sovereign's Piper as the Queen's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault. The singing of the National Anthem marked the end of the ceremony.[146][159]
Interment
After the funeral of the Queen on 19 September, she was later interred beneath the King George VI Memorial Chapel in a private service attended only by her closest family at 19:30, alongside her father King George VI, her mother Queen Elizabeth, and the ashes of her sister Princess Margaret. The remains of Prince Philip, who was temporarily interred in the Royal Vault following his funeral in 2021, were moved to the chapel after the interment of the Queen.[140][156]
Elizabeth II's coffin was constructed more than 30 years before the funeral.[160][161][q] It is made of English oak and lined with lead to protect the coffin and the remains from moisture damage. Due to the weight of the coffin, eight pallbearers were required for lifting and carrying rather than the usual six.[160][161]
Map showing countries from which at least one representative attended the funeral
The service at Westminster Abbey was attended by 2,000 people in total, including holders of the George Cross and Victoria Cross, representatives from the United Kingdom's faith communities, and foreign and Commonwealth heads of state and heads of government.[145][156][162] Representatives from 168 countries, out of 193 UN member states and two UN observer states, confirmed attendance, including 18 monarchs, 55 presidents and 25 prime ministers.[156][162]
Due to the limited number of seats, foreign invitees were asked to keep their delegations as small as possible and to only bring their spouses.[163] The UK government also requested those travelling by air to use commercial flights; private flights were directed away from Heathrow Airport.[163] Additionally, the government asked guests not to use private cars to travel to Westminster Abbey, and instead use government-provided "coach transport from a central assembly point".[163] This was only guidance; leaders including the President of the United States, Joe Biden, the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and the vice-president of China, Wang Qishan, were taken to the event through other means.[124][164] Many dignitaries were present for a reception by the King at Buckingham Palace on the eve of the funeral, and all international guests were invited to attend a reception hosted by the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, after the funeral service.[124][163]
Almost 200 people, recognised in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for their extraordinary contributions in areas including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, were invited to the service.[165]
Security
Police officers from Wales on duty in Sloane Square, London, before the funeral
Around 10,000 police officers were expected to be on duty every day in London during the mourning period, a security operation described by the Metropolitan Police as the "biggest the UK has ever seen"; officers from across the country supported the operation under mutual aid agreements.[166][167][168]Thames Valley Police announced that they would introduce new water patrols for observing busy waterways in the lead-up to the funeral, and mounted police officers, police dogs, and drones provided part of the security in Windsor.[168][169][170][171] Prior to the service a special unit, the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, began to monitor and review individuals identified as having a potentially dangerous obsession with the British royal family.[172]
MI5 and GCHQ worked in collaboration with counter-terrorism police and the Metropolitan Police to provide security for the funeral.[173] A group of 1,500 military personnel was also deployed, and Westminster was inspected by a military Wildcat helicopter.[173] "Hundreds" of stewards from private security firms were hired to aid with crowd management.[173]
Cost and economic impact
HM Treasury estimated the public expenditure to have been £162 million.[174][175] The GDP of the United Kingdom contracted by 0.6 per cent in September 2022, attributable in part to the funeral and the period of national mourning that preceded it.[176]
Coverage
The funeral and committal service of the Queen were the first of any British monarch to be broadcast on television to the public.[177] Filming had been prohibited during the state funeral of George VI, although the procession of his coffin was partially televised,[178] and the service itself had been broadcast on radio.[179]
Temporary stands set up for broadcasters across the road from Westminster Abbey
Channel 4 and Channel 5 were the only major public service networks that did not air the funeral; Channel 4 scheduled a mix of factual programmes and classic films (including the 1953 coronation documentary A Queen Is Crowned), and Channel 5 scheduled a lineup of family films.[180][190][191] Advertising was suspended across all commercial-supported broadcasters.[180]
Big screens were set up at cathedrals and public areas to broadcast the service.[192] Shops, licensed establishments, parish and public halls remained open in Jersey to allow people to watch the Queen's funeral.[193]
Buckingham Palace requested that video footage did not "intrude on the grief" of individual members of the royal family, that footage of the funeral be avoided from usage on entertainment programmes and allowed only for news coverage, and that five short pieces of video featuring members of the royal family would not be broadcast again.[194]
Other countries
The funeral was carried live by national broadcasters within the Commonwealth, in most of Europe and across the world.[195][196][197]
An estimated 4 billion people watched or had access to the event worldwide, making the funeral the largest televised broadcast in history.[200] Coverage in the United States was watched by more than 10 million viewers, with ABC News averaging three million viewers during its coverage of the event.[201] An audience of 7.5 million in France viewed coverage across six mainstream channels.[202]
Upon the Queen's death her eldest child Charles, Prince of Wales, immediately acceded to the British throne as King Charles III.[50][203]
Statement from the King after the death of the Queen
There was some speculation regarding the regnal name that would be adopted by the former Prince of Wales upon succeeding his mother. During her formal televised address outside 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Liz Truss made the first mention of the King's regnal name during a tribute to the Queen.[204]Clarence House officially confirmed the new king would be known as Charles III shortly after the Prime Minister's address. Buckingham Palace released the King's first official statement as monarch at 19:04, in which he said that the Queen's "loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world".[205]
Most of Charles III's pre-accession Scottish titles, as well as the title Duke of Cornwall, were passed to his elder son and the new heir apparent to the throne, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. On 9 September, William was named Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, succeeding his father.[206]
The Accession Council assembled on 10 September at St James's Palace to formally proclaim the accession of Charles III.[207] Although about seven hundred people were eligible to attend the ceremony, because the event was planned on short notice, the number in attendance was two hundred.[208] In addition to other formalities, the Council confirmed "Charles III" as the King's regnal name.[209] At 11:00, 21-gun salutes at the Tower of London, Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Castle Cornet, Gibraltar, and naval bases and ships at sea marked the accession of Charles III.[210][211][212] The King greeted crowds outside Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.[213]
On 10 September, senior MPs swore an oath of allegiance to Charles III in a special session of Parliament.[214] The King then met with the Prime Minister for a second time and held audiences with members of her cabinet and leaders of the opposition parties.[215]
King Charles III and Queen Camilla travelled from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace, where they greeted the crowd of mourners outside the gates.[217] The King then held an audience with the Prime Minister before paying tribute to his mother in a publicly broadcast message.[218][219] In Charles's first address as King he stated that a national period of mourning would be observed until the day after the state funeral (19 September), and an additional seven days would be observed by the royal family, royal household, and troops on ceremonial duties.[220][221]
At the Senedd the King received a motion of condolence before addressing the parliament in Welsh and English.[237][231] At Cardiff Castle, the King had audiences with the first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, and the llywydd, Elin Jones.[231][233] At the castle, they also held audiences with individuals associated with their royal patronages, before meeting with members of the public in the castle grounds.[237] Returning to London, the King met leaders of different faith communities at Buckingham Palace.[238]
On 17 September, the King met with the Defence Chiefs of Staff at Buckingham Palace and received the prime ministers of Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand.[239] The governors-general of the Commonwealth realms attended a reception and lunch at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the King and other members of the royal family.[239] The King met emergency services workers at the Metropolitan Police's Special Operations Room in Lambeth, who were organising aspects of the Queen's state funeral.[239][240] He also visited The Queue with Prince William to speak to its participants.[241]
On 10 September, a service at Crathie Kirk was attended by Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Andrew, Edward and his wife Sophie, and the Queen's grandchildren Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Beatrice, Eugenie, and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, who then viewed floral tributes outside Balmoral.[244][245] The King's sons, William and Harry, along with their wives, Catherine and Meghan, viewed floral tributes outside Windsor Castle.[246]
On 15 September, members of the royal family viewed tributes and met crowds around the UK. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Sandringham House, the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Manchester, and Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence travelled to Glasgow.[247][248]
On 16 September, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Army Training Centre Pirbright to meet with troops deployed from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand which would take part in the state funeral.[249] The Earl and Countess of Wessex met with members of the public and viewed tributes at Windsor Castle.[250]
On 17 September, the Earl and Countess of Wessex met with crowds outside Buckingham Palace.[240] On 18 September, the Princess of Wales held an audience with Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine.[242][251]
On 22 September, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Windsor Guildhall and the Princess Royal visited HMNB Portsmouth, respectively, to thank volunteers and staff and the Royal Navy for their role in organising the state funeral.[252][253]
The Union Flag flown at half-mast at Buckingham Palace
Charles III paid tribute to his "darling Mama" in an address to the UK and Commonwealth on 9 September.[218][254] On 9 September, all flags at royal residences were ordered to be lowered to half-mast except the Royal Standard, which continued to fly at full mast wherever the current monarch was in residence.[220] All royal residences were closed to the public until after the state funeral had occurred.[220] An online book of condolence was set up by the royal website.[220] In a written statement on 18 September, the King thanked the public for their support, and a previously unseen photograph of the Queen from May 2022 was published by the Palace.[255][256]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's tribute to the Queen
Politicians throughout the Commonwealth paid tribute to the Queen, praising her long public service.[267] Motions of condolences were also passed in the legislatures of Australia,[268][269] Canada,[270][271] New Zealand,[272] and Sri Lanka.[273][274] A resolution of condolence was also passed in the Senate of the Philippines, which was later handed over to the British ambassador.[275] Other political figures in the rest of the world also offered their condolences and tributes, as did members of royal families, religious leaders and other public figures.[276]
A service of prayer and mourning was held at St Paul's Cathedral at 18:00 on 9 September, attended by senior politicians and 2,000 members of the public.[218] The ceremony marked the first official rendition of "God Save the King" under Charles's reign.[277]
Many organisations paid their respects, and some suspended operations or cancelled events.[278][279] The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 interrupted television programming to cover the news, while print media dedicated entire front covers in tribute.[280][281] Sporting events which went ahead observed minutes of silence.[282]
Other commemorations
The flag of Sudan at half-mast following the death of the QueenThe Brandenburg Gate illuminated with the Union Flag on 16 September as a tribute to the QueenFloral tributes to Elizabeth II at the British Embassy in Berlin
Instructions to fly national flags at half-mast were issued in several countries. In Commonwealth realms like Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Solomon Islands, national flags were flown at half-mast until the date of the funeral; with the exception of Proclamation Day when flags were returned to full mast.[297] Several other countries also issued instructions to fly their national flags at half-mast, including Sri Lanka, the United States, and many European Union buildings.[298][299] White flags were also put up in Galle Face Green and other prominent places throughout Sri Lanka.[300]
Many landmarks were illuminated in either purple or royal blue colours to honour the Queen, or illuminated with the name or image of Elizabeth II, her royal cypher, or the Union Flag;[324] including landmarks in Australia,[325][326] Bosnia and Herzegovina,[327] Brazil,[324] Canada,[328] the Czech Republic,[298] Germany,[324] Israel,[329] Kuwait,[324] New Zealand, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates,[330] the United Kingdom,[335] and the United States.[324][298] Several landmarks in Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom were also dimmed or had their lighting shut off as a sign of respect.[340]
Moments of silence were held across several Commonwealth realms. Several institutions also held moments of silence, including the Dáil Éireann,[341] the Parliament of Sri Lanka,[342] and by the Airborne Commemorations Foundation in the Netherlands.[343]
Antigua and Barbuda hosted a service of thanksgiving in honour of the late Queen of Antigua and Barbuda on 19 September, which was declared a public holiday throughout the country. The Governor-General's Deputy, Sir Clare Roberts, and the Acting Prime Minister Steadroy Benjamin presided in the absence of Sir Rodney Williams and Gaston Browne respectively, who were both present at the Queen's state funeral in London. The service took place at the Cathedral of St John The Divine and was officiated by Dwane Cassius, Dean of the Cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of the North East Caribbean and Aruba.[345]
A 96-gun salute was fired by Australia's Federation Guard on the forecourt of Parliament House in Canberra on 9 September to mark the passing of the Queen of Australia.[347]
The Sydney Opera House illuminated in the Queen's honour on 10 September
Monuments and landmarks across the country were lit up to honour the Queen. The Sydney Opera House was illuminated with an image of Queen Elizabeth II on the nights of 9 and 10 September, as a symbolic gesture on behalf of the Government of New South Wales.[326] The Australian Parliament House was lit up with images of the Queen throughout her seven-decade reign, reflecting her long and deep relationship with Australia.[348] Landmarks across Perth and Melbourne were illuminated in "royal purple" in honour of the Queen.[349][350]
A national memorial service for the Queen took place on 22 September at Parliament House in Canberra. The National Day of Mourning was observed as a "one-off public holiday". One minute's silence was observed at 11:00 across Australia.[351][352] Plans were announced for a new public square in central Sydney bearing the late Queen's name.[353]
The Bahamas
A state memorial service for Elizabeth II, Queen of the Bahamas, was held at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau on 2 October.[354] A procession of parliamentarians and law enforcement officers preceded the service, which started at Rawson Square, Bay Street. Governor General Sir Cornelius A. Smith, and Prime Minister Philip Davis were among those who addressed the congregation.[355][356]
Bhutan
Upon royal command special prayers were performed in all major dzongs, temples and monasteries across Bhutan.[357] King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema offered 1,000 butterlamps at Samtse on 9 September for Elizabeth II. Special prayers to offer light (called marme moenlam) were held at the ceremony, which was attended by the prime minister, government officials, and thousands of people in Samtse. Thongdrels of Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung were unfurled for the ceremony, to sanctify the important occasion.[357]
In Thimphu, former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and members of the royal family were joined by government officials and foreign dignitaries to offer 1,000 butter lamps and prayers at the Grand Kuenrey of the Tashichhodzong.[357]
Various locations were illuminated in honour of the late Queen of Canada as a part of the Department of Canadian Heritage's national illumination initiative.[328] The Canadian government also announced a donation of C$20 million to the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, a program that funds Canadian university exchange programs.[358]
Moments of silence were held across several provinces on 19 September, with several transit operators having paused their operations for 96 seconds to coincide with the moment of silence.[380][381][382] A 96-gun salute was also organised at Fort Wellington in Prescott, Ontario.[383]
In December 2022, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced a commemorative C$2 coin with a black outer ring, meant to symbolise mourning for the Queen. The Mint produced an initial batch of five million C$2 coins for circulation, with further batches to be made as "marketplace needs" allow.[384] In January 2023, the Mint announced the launch of a new series of limited edition silver, gold, and platinum collectible coins in honour of Elizabeth II.[385]
Fiji
The Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in Suva hosted a special Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on 16 September in memory of the Queen. The service was attended by hundreds, including President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and First Lady Filomena, Parliament Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Minister for Health Ifereimi Waqainabete, former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, Head of the Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, members of the diplomatic corps and the public. During the service, the Republic of Fiji Military Services provided "The Last Post", signalling the end of the Queen's 70-year reign.[386][387]
On 20 September, President Katonivere hosted a Commemoration and Thanksgiving Service for the Queen at State House in Suva, which was attended by senior officials, government ministers, members of parliament and foreign representatives. The President reflected on the Queen's six visits to Fiji, which he said symbolised strong solidarity between Fiji and the royal family.[388][389]
France
French postal service La Poste issued a book of four collector stamps featuring the Queen. 50,000 stamps were put on sale on the day of the Queen's funeral.[390][391]
It was announced that Le Touquet's local airport would be renamed Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Elizabeth II to honour the Queen.[392] In Paris, the George V Métro station, on Line 1 under the Champs-Élysées, was renamed Elizabeth II for the day of the Queen's state funeral.[393]
Thousands in Hong Kong paid tribute to the Queen, who was the colonial head of the city for 45 years before handover in 1997.[394] Long queues were seen outside the British consulate for days after the announcement of the death and until the funeral, with mourners waiting up to four hours. More than 13,000 signed the condolence books in the consulate in 11 days,[395] eulogising the "boss lady", an affectionate nickname for the Queen by the Hongkongers.[396] The tribute, which was one of the largest public gatherings since the imposition of the national security law and the crackdown on the democracy movement, was also regarded as a protest to Hong Kong and Chinese authorities and a mourning of the past.[397][398]
Eric Chan, Chief Secretary for Administration and second-highest-ranking official in the city, visited the consulate and signed the condolence book on behalf of the government.[399] Nevertheless, the pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao accused a "minority" of Hong Kong mourners for "indulging in this fantasy that they are subjects of the British Empire", and called for the eradication of colonialism.[400]
On the day of the Queen's funeral, hundreds gathered outside the consulate watching a live broadcast of the event. A harmonica player was arrested under the colonial-era sedition law after playing "Glory to Hong Kong", a protest song prominently used in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, and "God Save the King".[401][402]
Jamaica
After the announcement of the passing of the Queen of Jamaica on 8 September 2022, bells were tolled nationally in churches throughout all parish capitals for one hour beginning at 6:00 pm. Books of condolence were established at King's House, and in the Offices of the Custodes in all parishes during the mourning period.[403] A 96-gun salute was fired by the Jamaica Defence Force at Up-Park Camp in St Andrew on 19 September.[404]
A national memorial service for the Queen held on 2 October at the St. Andrew Parish Church in Kingston was attended by government officials and foreign representatives.[405][406] The service was headed by Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and Mark Golding, the leader of the official opposition. The service included scripture readings by the governor-general, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, as well as tributes in songs by the church choir and the Kingston College Choir.[407]
Former staff returned to the Treetops Hotel near Nyeri, Kenya, the building where Elizabeth learned about the death of her father and her accession to the throne to light candles and lay out a condolence book.[409]
Malta
Flowers and wreaths were laid by the Maltese people outside Villa Guardamangia in Pietà, where as a princess, the Queen lived with Prince Philip between 1949 and 1951, while Philip was stationed in Malta as a serving Royal Navy officer.[410]
In the days leading up to the funeral, an online petition calling for a statue to be created in the Queen's honor garnered some 1,400 signatures.[411]
The day of the state funeral was observed as a national day of mourning, with national flags across the country flown at half-mast. At 11:45 am local time, a 21-gun salute was fired across the Grand Harbour by gunners of the Armed Forces of Malta on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister, to mark the death of the Queen. The timing of the gun salute coincided with the departure of the Queen's coffin from Westminster Hall in London.[412]
At The Phoenicia hotel, where the Queen danced in balls during her time in Malta, people gathered in the Club Bar to watch the funeral service.[412]
At the Auckland War Memorial Museum, a haka was led by members of the Limited Service Volunteer programme to honour the Queen.[414][415]
A state memorial service with a one-off public holiday took place on 26 September to celebrate the life and reign of the Queen of New Zealand.[416][417] The service took place at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul at 14:00 and was televised and live-streamed.[418][419] A national minute of silence took place at the beginning of the service, with people across New Zealand being invited to participate in the moment of silence.[420] During the service, the Queen's Personal New Zealand Flag was paraded for the last time.[421]
The King's Representative, Sir Tom Marsters, proclaimed 30 September a public holiday in the Cook Islands in respect of the Queen's passing.[427] On the morning of the holiday, the government held a memorial service for the Queen at the National Auditorium in Avarua. The service was attended by Marsters, traditional leaders, members of the Religious Advisory Council, Queen's Award recipients, the high commissioners of New Zealand and Australia, Members of Parliament, members of the various uniform organisations, and members of the public.[428]
Niue
Two days of commemoration took place in Niue to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Niue's head of state. A series of events took place on 18 and 19 September, with the latter being a public holiday. On 19 September, a national memorial service was held at the Taoga Niue starting at 08:00. A national moment of reflection took place at 08:15, with people across Niue taking part. People were also asked to plant a tree on 19 September in memory of the Queen.[309]
Papua New Guinea
On 12 September, a 96-gun salute was fired in honour of the Queen, and a moment of silence took place outside Parliament House in Port Moresby.[310]
On 18 September, members of various Anglican Church parishes in Port Moresby gathered at St Martin's Anglican parish for a memorial service for the late Queen of Papua New Guinea, which was presided over by the Bishop of Popondota, Lindsley Ihove.[429][430]
On 19 September, the day of the state funeral, the public was invited to pause for a 70-second national tribute to reflect on the life and legacy of Elizabeth II, Queen of Saint Lucia. Church bells and sirens from fire stations throughout the nation sounded for one minute and 10seconds starting at 09:59 to herald the commencement of the 70-second reflection period at 10:00.[431]
Solomon Islands
In the Solomon Islands the prime minister declared 12–14 September as days of mourning, and the first a public holiday.[432] The three-day national mourning period began on 12 September with a wreath-laying and signing of the condolence book at Government House by national leaders including Governor-General Sir David Vunagi, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Speaker of the National Parliament Patteson Oti and Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer; as well as other government officials, former governors-general and prime ministers, members of diplomatic missions and uniformed groups.[433]
A memorial church service was held at the Saint Barnabas Anglican Cathedral on 14 September to celebrate the life and reign of Elizabeth II, Queen of Solomon Islands. The service was attended by Oti (acting as Governor-General), Sogavare, Palmer, Deputy Speaker Commins Mewa, former governors-general, acting British High Commissioner Steve Auld and senior government officials.[434]
Sweden
Sweden honoured the Queen, who was one of the longest-serving members of the Royal Order of the Seraphim, the foremost order of Sweden, on the day of her funeral on 19 September. The Queen was awarded the order by King Gustaf VI Adolf on 26 May 1953, and the chain of the Order was given to her by King Carl XVI Gustaf on 23 May 1975. The Queen was the 722nd member of the Order since its inception in 1748.[435] The Queen's royal coat of arms as a member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim was then taken in procession from the palace to Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, where the bourdon rang a traditional Seraphim Toll for one hour. The arms were then hung in the church. By command of the King of Sweden, flags above royal residences were flown at half-mast on the day.[435]
United Kingdom
Some of the floral tributes left by the public in Green Park, London
The Church of England issued guidance for services of commemoration to be held in parish churches.[436] On the evening before the state funeral, some four thousand people attended an open air memorial service at The Kelpies near Falkirk, led by the Very Reverend Martin Fair, during which ninety-six lanterns, one for each year of the Queen's life, were placed on the "pool of reflection" at the foot of the sculpture.[437]
Shortly after the announcement of the Queen's death, London Black cab drivers lined The Mall in tribute.[438] Mourners in London covered the gates, railings and pavement outside Buckingham Palace with flowers until a floral tribute area was opened in the adjacent Green Park; during the mourning period, it was estimated that 15 tonnes of bouquets were left there. Large quantities of flowers were also left at Windsor Castle where they obstructed footpaths.[439] Mourners left more than a thousand teddy bears and particularly Paddington Bear toys, in reference to a popular short film in which the Queen had appeared with Paddington at the Platinum Party at the Palace. The toys were later cleaned and presented to Barnardo's, a children's charity, by the Queen Consort.[440]
Tributes to the Queen were projected on billboards at Piccadilly Circus and on the BT Tower, as well as on advertising screens throughout the country.[441][442] The Royal Mail issued four commemorative stamps showing the Queen at different stages in her life.[443]
↑ The note said: "The Queen is unwell and Keir needs to leave the chamber as soon as possible to be briefed."
↑ The statement read: "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral."
↑ The opening hymn of the service was "All People that on Earth do Dwell", the metrical version of Psalm 100. Matheson sang Psalm 118. The first lesson was taken from Ecclesiastes 3. The choir then sang Psalm 116 before the second reading from Romans 8. The second hymn was "The Lord's My Shepherd", which was followed by the gospel reading from John 14. Following the homily, the choir sang William Byrd's anthem "Justorum Animae". After several prayers were said, the closing hymn, "Glory to God! Our living songs we raise", was sung, followed by the national anthem and the benediction.[74][75]
↑ This gun carriage had carried her parents' coffins.
↑ The full group included Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, the Earl of Snowdon, the Duke of Gloucester, and Timothy Laurence.
↑ The original coffin makers are now closed. It passed through the hands of two funeral directors before Leverton & Sons received it when they became undertakers to the Royal Family in 1991. The original coffin firm, Henry Smith, had also manufactured the coffin in which Prince Philip lies.[160][161]
↑ The text of "A Welsh Prayer" is in English.[236]
Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor is the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. She is the youngest niece of King Charles III. Born 8th in line to the British throne, she is now 16th.
Lying in state is the tradition in which the body of a deceased official, such as a head of state, is placed in a state building, either outside or inside a coffin, to allow the public to pay their respects. It traditionally takes place in a major government building of a country, state, or city. While the practice differs among countries, in the United States, a viewing in a location other than a government building, such as a church, may be referred to as lying in repose. It is a more formal and public kind of wake or viewing. Lying in state often precedes a state funeral.
The Vigil of the Princes refers to occasions when members of the British royal family have "stood guard" during the lying in state of one of their relatives during or as part of a British state or ceremonial funeral. This occurred for King George V in 1936, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002, and for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Prior to 2022, only male members of the British royal family joined the vigil. In 2022 however, female members of the royal family took part in the vigil. Anne, Princess Royal, took part alongside her three brothers in both vigils for their mother, Queen Elizabeth II while all four of the Queen's granddaughters took part in a separate grandchildren's vigil.
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She had been queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch, the second-longest of any sovereign state, and the longest of any queen regnant in history.
James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex, styled Viscount Severn from 2007 until 2023, is the younger child and son of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. He is the youngest nephew of King Charles III. He was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother Elizabeth II, at which time he was 8th in line to the British throne. He is currently 15th.
The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, started on Saturday 6 September 1997 at 9:08am in London, when the tenor bell of Westminster Abbey started tolling to signal the departure of the cortège from Kensington Palace. The coffin was carried from the palace on a gun carriage by riders of the King's Troop and escorted by mounted police along Hyde Park to St James's Palace, where Diana's body had remained for five days before being taken to Kensington Palace. The Union Flag on top of the palace was lowered to half mast. The official ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey in London and finished at the resting place in Althorp.
The Unknown Warrior is an unidentified member of the British Imperial armed forces who died on the western front during the First World War. He is interred in a grave at Westminster Abbey, also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
State funerals in Canada are public events held to commemorate former governors general, prime ministers, other members of the cabinet who died in office, and, at the cabinet's discretion, other eminent Canadians. With ceremonial, military, and religious elements incorporated, state funerals are offered and executed by the governor general-in-council, who provides a dignified manner for the Canadian people to mourn a national public figure. Provincial and territorial governments may also perform state funerals for citizens in their particular jurisdictions. However, most state funerals are federal affairs.
In the United Kingdom, state funerals are usually reserved for monarchs. The most recent was the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022.
On 30 March 2002 at 15:15 GMT, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, widow to King George VI and mother to Queen Elizabeth II, died at the age of 101 at Royal Lodge, Windsor. The death of the Queen Mother set in motion Operation Tay Bridge, a plan detailing procedures including the dissemination of information, national mourning, and her funeral. Representatives of nations and groups around the world sent condolences to the Queen, the British people, and citizens of the Commonwealth. Flowers and messages of condolence were left by the public at royal residences, with members of the royal family publicly paying tribute to the Queen Mother in the days after her death. Her funeral, held on 9 April 2002 at Westminster Abbey in London, attracted 10 million viewers in the United Kingdom and cost £5.4million.
Operation London Bridge was the funeral plan for Queen Elizabeth II. The plan included the announcement of her death, the period of official mourning, and the details of her state funeral. The plan was created as early as the 1960s and revised many times in the years before her death in September 2022.
Sir Winston Churchill, the British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, died on 24 January 1965, aged 90. His was the first state funeral in the United Kingdom for a non-member of the royal family since Edward Carson's in 1935. It was the last state funeral until Queen Elizabeth II's on 19 September 2022. The official funeral lasted for four days. Planning for the funeral, known as Operation Hope Not, began after Churchill's stroke in 1953 while in his second term as prime minister. After several revisions due to Churchill's continued survival, the plan was issued on 26 January 1965, two days after his death.
Between 14 and 19 September 2022, a queue of mourners waited to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II while she lay in state at Westminster Hall in London, England. Elizabeth II had died on 8 September, and had previously lain in rest in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh from 12 to 13 September. On official signs the queue was named "lying-in-state queue" and in contemporary media coverage it was simply called "The Queue".
On 6 February 1952, George VI, King of the United Kingdom, died at the age of 56, at Sandringham House, after a prolonged cancer. His state funeral took place on 15 February 1952. A period of national mourning commenced and his elder daughter and successor, Queen Elizabeth II, was proclaimed the new monarch by the Accession Council. George VI's coffin lay in St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham until 11 February when it was carried, in procession, to the nearby Wolferton railway station. The coffin was carried by train to London King's Cross railway station where another formal procession carried it to Westminster Hall where the king lay in state for three days. Some 304,000 people passed through Westminster Hall with queues up to 4 miles (6.4 km) forming.
On 9 April 2021, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and the longest-serving royal consort in history, died of old age at Windsor Castle at the age of 99.
Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, died on 8 September 2022, at the age of 96, leading to reactions from around the world. The new king, Charles III, paid tribute to his "darling Mama" in an address to the nation and Commonwealth the next day. Politicians throughout the Commonwealth paid tribute to the Queen, praising her long public service. Political figures of the rest of the world also offered their condolences and tributes, as did members of royal families, religious leaders and other public figures.
George V, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, died at Sandringham House in Norfolk on 20 January 1936, at the age of 70. He was succeeded by the eldest son, Edward VIII, who abdicated that year.
The funeral of Queen Mary, widow to King George V, took place on 31 March 1953 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, following her death on 24 March and subsequent lying in state at Westminster Hall. Her death occurred two months short of her 86th birthday and ten weeks before the coronation of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
The funeral of Queen Alexandra, widow to King Edward VII and mother to King George V, occurred on Friday, 27 November 1925 at Westminster Abbey, following her death on 20 November.
1 2 3 McTaggart, India; Rayner, Gordon (17 September 2022). "Heart of oak − international spotlight on Queen Elizabeth's coffin". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022. So much time has passed from its manufacture, however, that the coffin has passed through the hands of two funeral companies since then and the precise date of its creation has been lost.
↑ Bridge, London (10 September 2022). "The King's Audiences". The Royal Family. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
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