UK government spent total of 161.7 million pounds ($204 million) on Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral and other related events, the Treasury has revealed.
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on Sept. 8, at the age of 96.
Following her death, the country entered 10 days of national mourning which concluded with her state funeral on September 19 at the Westminster Abbey.
About 250,000 people queued for hours to file past the coffin at Westminster Hall during her lying-in-state.
The largest cost was reported by the Home Office which has responsibility for policing and national security at £73.7m, followed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at £57.4m.
London’s Metropolitan Police said at the time the funeral was the biggest policing event in its history, with dignitaries from across the globe in attendance.
Other costs include £2.9m by the Ministry of Defence, £2.6m by the Department for Transport, £2.2m by the Welsh government and £2.1m by both the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Northern Ireland Office.
The cost to the Scottish government has been estimated at £18.8m.
The Treasury said that the costs include “fully refunding” the Scottish and Welsh governments, and the Northern Ireland Office, “which in turn they were able to repay to partners who also incurred costs”.
“The government’s priorities were that these events ran smoothly and with the appropriate level of dignity, while at all times ensuring the safety and security of the public,’ John Glen, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said in a written statement to parliament.
“The death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 Sep 2022 and the period of national mourning that followed was a moment of huge national significance.
“During this period, many hundreds of thousands of people came in person to pay their respects, at the Lying at Rest in Edinburgh, the lying in state in Westminster, as well as in London and Windsor for the State Funeral on Sep 19.
“Many more people also came out to support His Majesty The King and other members of the Royal Family as they travelled around the UK during this time.”
He added: “As departments finalise their accounts ahead of publication in the coming months, the Government is now able to publish an estimate of the costs associated with delivery of these events by the main government departments and devolved administrations involved, as follows.”
Cost of past burials
According to the Telegraph, the late Queen’s funeral was the first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s in 1965, which cost an estimated £2.5m (the equivalent of £39.5m today), according to reports.
The Queen Mother’s royal ceremonial funeral in 2002 cost more than £5.4m (£9.3m today) with policing costs amounting to £4.3m (£7.4m) – and the lying in state coming to £825,000 (1.4m).
The cost of Prince Philip’s funeral in Apr 2021 has not been revealed but is likely to have been considerably less as it took place during lockdown and within the confines of Windsor Castle.
Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 was between £3m and £5m (£5.5m and £9m today).
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
