Queen’s funeral to cost UK over $9m; why Westminster Abbey was chosen
This is how much the Queen’s funeral is going to cost, as it’s revealed why she broke with royal tradition.
Entertainment
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There hasn’t been a royal funeral at Westminster Abbey for a British monarch since King George II in 1760.
But there is a good reason Queen Elizabeth broke with tradition that has decreed funerals for British kings and queens be held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
The Abbey has played a significant role in the Queen’s life. It was the place she was crowned Queen and where she married Prince Philip. Two of her children, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew were married there.
It’s also one of the most celebrated and iconic churches in all of England, and on Monday, an estimated four billion people’s eyes will be fixed upon it.
Westminster Abbey in the heart of London will be the site of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, which begins at 8pm AEST on September 19.
The Gothic, cavernous building is more than 1,000 years old and has played host to countless significant historical moments – most recently, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, and the funerals of The Queen Mother in 2002 and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.
The ceremony space has the capacity to seat 2,200 people – a number likely to quickly be reached for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral next week.
The event is set to be one of the biggest gatherings of royalty and politicians hosted in Britain for decades.
Its venue, which is one of the United Kingdom’s most renowned religious buildings, has also been the traditional site of coronations over the centuries – as well as burials.
Of all the attractions within The Abbey’s famous walls, the Royal Tombs and Poet’s Corner sections are the most popular with the millions of tourists who visit annually.
Queen Elizabeth II’s State funeral will cost British taxpayers millions of dollars but it won’t be the most expensive the world has ever seen.
While the British Government has not disclosed the cost, the 10-day funeral culminating at Westminster Abbey next week is estimated to cost more than $A9 million and has the potential to be the biggest global TV event in history.
World leaders including US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern are among those attending, their appearances alongside other dignitaries adding to the publicly funded security bill.
The nation’s last state funeral was for the Winston Churchill in 1965, who was actually prime minister when the late monarch took the throne in 1952.
There have been notable – and costly – ceremonial funerals in the years since, which indicate just how costly the Queen’s funeral will be.
While the funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, last year was small due to his wishes and the coronavirus pandemic, the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002 was estimated to have cost £5.4 million ($A9.2m).
That included 825,000 pounds ($A1.4 million) for the three-day lying-in-state and £4.3 million ($A7.4 million) for security, according to a House of Commons report. She was the last person to lie in state at Westminster Hall.
More than 11,800 police staff and 1200 civil staff were in operation from the day of her death to her funeral.
Prince Phillip’s private funeral had just 30 mourners and his request not to lie in state also reduced security costs.
Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 was estimated to have cost five million pounds ($A8.5m). She also did not lie in state and instead laid to rest at St James’s Palace.
An estimated 2.5 billion people watched the funeral on television across the world.
Queen Elizabeth II will lie-in-state until the morning of the funeral on Monday, open 24 hours a day.
Her coffin will be carried to Westminster Abbey for the funeral on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy.
Despite the Queen’s funeral expected to cost more than $A9 million (as her mother’s did) it is unlikely to be the most expensive funeral in history.
That record is said to be held by Alexander the Great, who had a solid gold coffin and golden carriage.
In more recent times, Ronald Reagan’s funeral was reportedly estimated to have cost $US400m ($A593m) in 2004.
Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005 and the conclave, election and inauguration of the papacy of Pope Benedict was estimated to cost 8.9 million euros ($A13.2m).
The Royal Family receive government funding called a sovereign grant to support royal duties “such as receptions and garden parties” and to cover “running costs”, which include travel and building maintenance. In 2020/21 the monarchy received a sovereign grant of £86 million ($A146.8m).
However, general security costs, metropolitan police costs for events and local government logistic costs such as road closures are not covered by the grant and are paid for by the government.
Speaking to News Corp Australia staunch royalists said the Queen deserved a grand funeral after serving the UK for 70 years, while anti-royalists were horrified given so many Brits were struggling with the cost of living.
Brits on both sides pointed out the money the country made through tourism linked to the royals.
Originally published as Queen’s funeral to cost UK over $9m; why Westminster Abbey was chosen
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