The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September broke an array of records. It was the UK's biggest security operation, with 10,000 police officers deployed in the capital. It was attended by 500 world leaders, with almost 6,000 military personnel taking part in a meticulously choreographed operation. In short, it was the largest and most impressive royal state funeral in British history - fitting, given that Elizabeth II was the country's longest-reigning monarch.
The ceremony may well prove to be the apogee of royal funerals. With hints of a more frugal, slimmed-down version of monarchy from Charles III's reign onwards, we will probably never see anything like it again. Though its scale might have been unprecedented, it was the result of centuries of tradition surrounding royal funerals.
One of the earliest burials for which we have detailed evidence was uncovered at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk on the eve of the Second World War. Archaeologists found a burial, dating from the early seventh century, of incomparable richness. Musical instruments and intricately carved weaponry rendered from precious metals and gems were placed in a huge ship intended to convey the deceased to the afterlife. The presence of diplomatic gifts from Scandinavia hint at someone well-respected and well-connected, while the shoulder clasps modelled on those worn by Roman emperors are symbolic of power. Together, they indicate someone of exceptionally high, likely royal, status - possibly Rædwald, king of East Anglia.
Early royal funerals often took place over two days, with the state ceremonies on the first day and the interment on the second. Over the centuries this was condensed to a single day, though often with the same delineation between the more public funeral service and the more private interment as was the case with Elizabeth II.
This story is from the December 2022 edition of BBC History UK.
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This story is from the December 2022 edition of BBC History UK.
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