Queen Elizabeth II has died, aged 96.
Buckingham Palace mentioned in a press release: “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.”
Royal protocol outlines that the nation enter right into a state of mourning, however there are additionally a number of procedures in place surrounding funerals for members of the royal household.
Unlike Prince Philip, who had a royal ceremonial funeral, the Queen may have a state funeral, which is normally reserved for the sovereign.
But what precisely is a state funeral and who else has had one? Here’s the whole lot it’s worthwhile to know.
What is a state funeral?
A state funeral is normally reserved for monarchs and is a manner of honouring the lifetime of the sovereign.
It usually begins with the physique of the deceased being carried on a gun carriage, which is drawn by sailors from the Royal Navy reasonably than horses, as a part of a army procession, taking them from a non-public resting chapel to Westminster Hall within the House of Parliament.
This is usually adopted by one other procession to to Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral, relying on the place the service is.
Heads of state are then given a 21-gun salute.
It is the accountability of the Earl Marshal to ship a state funeral with the help of the College of Arms.
Who is entitled to a state funeral?
The head of state is at all times entitled to a state funeral.
However, different individuals could be granted a state funeral with the monarch’s approval and a vote in parliament, which must deem them an “exceptionally distinguished” individual after which votes on cash to fund it.
Who has had a state funeral within the UK?
In the UK, the latest individuals to have had state funerals embody Sir Winston Churchill (1965) and former prime ministers William Gladstone and Lord Palmerston, who got state funerals once they died in 1898 and 1865, respectively.
The Duke of Wellington was given a state funeral in 1852 and Lord Nelson was given one in 1806 following his demise within the battle of Trafalgar.
Monarchs to have had state funerals embody Queen Victoria (1901), King Edward VII (1910), King George V (1936) and King George VI (1952).
How does a state funeral differ from a royal ceremonial funeral?
There aren’t too many variations between the 2 kinds of funerals. For instance, each embody a gun carriage to bear the coffin and a service attended by home and international state representatives.
Additionally, each can embody a mendacity in state, which is a convention the place the physique of the deceased is positioned in a state constructing to allow the general public the possibility to pay their respects.
Slight variations to the 2 funerals embody the coffin being drawn by horses at a royal ceremonial funeral versus sailors from the royal navy.
The principal distinction, although, is who organises the funeral. For instance, ceremonial royal funerals are the accountability of Lord Chamberlain – essentially the most senior official of the Royal Household, whereas for state funerals it’s the accountability of Earl Marshal.
Those to have had royal ceremonial funerals embody Princess Diana in 1997 and the Queen’s mom in 2002.
Where are members of the royal household buried?
Traditionally, members of the royal household are buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Members of the royal household who’re buried there embody Queen Victoria, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I and the Queen’s mom.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk