The Queen’s state funeral took place on September 19 and was the first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill’s in 1965.
State funerals are orchestrated to follow strict rules of protocol and are public ceremonies held to honour a person of national significance.
However, neither the Queen Mother nor Prince Philip had official state funerals, and they were described as more ceremonial.
On May 18, 2023, the Treasury revealed the cost of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and related events.
How much does a state funeral cost?
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral cost the Government £161.7 million. Around £74 million was covered by the Home Office, while £57 million was funded by the Department of Culture, Media, and Sports.
Other costs were covered by the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence.
John Glen, chief secretary to the Treasury, said that the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish governments were refunded for their respective costs, the BBC reported.
In comparison, the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002 reportedly cost around £5.4 million, while Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 cost between £3 million and £5 million.
Where was the Queen’s funeral held?
The Queen’s state funeral took place at Westminster Abbey, where she married Prince Philip.
The ceremony took place at 11am on Monday, September 19. It was attended by some of the world’s most prestigious leaders and politicians, including US President Joe Biden. The state funeral was also broadcast live on BBC One and iPlayer.
The Queen’s coffin was then buried in the King George VI memorial chapel, in Windsor.
The chapel, named after the late Queen’s father, was finished in 1969. It is the resting place of her father, mother, and sister.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away on April 9, 2021, was privately interred in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel. He was then moved to rest alongside Her Majesty at the memorial chapel.
