No one since Winston Churchill in 1965 has had a state funeral in the UK. The Queen of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II, who will be buried on Monday September 19, will obviously have this honor. Several ceremonies will take place throughout the day according to a very precise protocol, planned well before the death of the sovereign.
► Where will the funeral take place?
The funeral will take place in the heart of London, at Westminster Abbey, which usually seats around 2,200 people. Most will not be able to see the Queen’s funeral because of the wall that separates the nave from the choir. The members of the royal family will take their place as close as possible to the coffin.
► Who is invited?
Many crowned heads from Europe and elsewhere have confirmed their presence at the sovereign’s funeral. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will come on their first overseas trip since assuming the throne in 2019.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix, King Philippe of the Belgians, King Harald V of Norway and Prince Albert II of Monaco will be present.
US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, top the list of diplomatic guests. French President Emmanuel Macron will also be present to show the link “unwavering” of his country with the United Kingdom. Turkish Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will also come. Pope Francis confirmed on Friday, September 16 that he would not participate in the ceremony.
► How will security be ensured?
In all, nearly 20,000 police officers are mobilized to ensure security. The anti-terrorist services are mobilized, snipers will also be present. In addition, surveillance cameras have been added to sensitive locations.
Buckingham Palace, on the other hand, opposed the use of drones so as not to disturb the meditation. The Heads of State present will also benefit from the protection of their own services. Joe Biden will notably be surrounded by 400 American security officers.
► Where will the queen be buried?
Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest in the little-known George VI Memorial, located in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, alongside her parents, sister and late husband Philip.
However, she will not, unlike other members of the royal family, be buried in the royal vault, under the chapel. This vault houses the bodies of a long list of 18th and 19th century sovereigns, including King George III, who died in 1820.
Due to lack of space, it had been decided to build another chapel, the first architectural modification of Saint-Georges since the chapel had been consecrated in the 15th century. Commissioned by Elizabeth to accommodate the coffin of her father, King George VI, the memorial was completed in 1969. This is where his final resting place will be.