By Marisa Laudadio
2:15pm PDT, Sep 25, 2023
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral — the first the United Kingdom saw since former Prime Minister Winston Churchill's in 1965 — took place on Sept. 19, 2022, at Westminster Abbey in London 10 days after she died on Sept. 8 at Balmoral, her summer home in Scotland. She was then laid to rest in a crypt inside St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
On the one-year anniversary of Her Majesty's funeral, join us as we take a look back at the best photos from the final farewell to the the history-making monarch… then keep reading to see more of the most memorable images from 11 British royals' funerals since the early 1900s.
Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales followed by car the coffin of great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II as it traveled on a Royal Navy state gun carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London on Sept. 19, 2022, after the monarch's state funeral.
Keep reading to see pictures from the royal funerals of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Diana, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, Wallis Simpson, the Duke of Windsor, King George VI and more…
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Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Queen Elizabeth II's eldest grandsons — Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips — stood behind her coffin at Westminster Abbey in London during her state funeral on Sept. 19, 2022.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre, was carried by a military bearer party inside Westminster Cathedral in London on Sept. 19, 2022, as the royal family looked on during her state funeral: (front row) King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Kate, Princess Charlotte and Peter Phillips; (second row) Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan, Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, Sarah, Duchess of York, David Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon; (third row) Samuel Chatto, Arthur Chatto, Lady Sarah Chatto, Daniel Chatto, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, the Earl and Countess of St. Andrews.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Duchess Meghan and Camilla, Queen Consort watched as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II left London's Westminster Abbey during her state funeral on Sept. 19, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
The state hearse procession carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II made its way to Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, after arriving from London on Sept. 19, 2022. Following a televised public committal ceremony inside St. George's Chapel on the castle's grounds, the queen was interred with her late husband, Prince Philip, alongside her parents and sister in a private burial attended only by the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Her dogs were there too: Members of the Royal Household stood with two of Queen Elizabeth's beloved corgis, Muick and Sandy, as they awaited the arrival of the monarch's funeral cortege at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Sept. 19, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Surrounded by thousands of flowers left by mourners, Emma — the fell pony Queen Elizabeth II loved to ride around the grounds of her estate in Windsor, England — stood riderless, watching as the monarch's coffin passed by and returned to Windsor Castle for the final time for her interment at St. George's Chapel on Sept. 19, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
World leaders and royals — including The Netherlands' former Queen Beatrix and son King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, followed by Sweden's King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia, and Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia — attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Britain's King Charles III and wife Camilla, Queen Consort; Prince William, Prince of Wales and wife Catherine, Princess of Wales and their kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte; and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex watched as the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II arrived at Wellington Arch from Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19, 2022, before being driven to Windsor, England, for her burial.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
The royal state hearse — covered in flowers thrown by the grieving public and carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, which was followed by her children and grandsons — arrived at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, for the monarch's committal service at St. George's Chapel on Sept. 19, 2022, following her state funeral in London.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Britain's King Charles III walked behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it left Westminster Abbey in London during her state funeral on Sept. 19, 2022. The casket was draped in the Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre and a floral wreath. At King Charles III's request, the wreath contained foliage of rosemary, English oak and myrtle cut from a plant grown from the myrtle in the queen's 1947 wedding bouquet plus flowers in shades of gold, pink and burgundy, with touches of white, cut from the gardens of royal residences. The card on top, written by the king, read, "In loving and devoted memory, Charles R."
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Here's a closer look at what was on top of Her Majesty's coffin… The body of Queen Elizabeth II, her casket draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre sitting on top, lie in state on a catafalque as members of the public filed past in London's Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster on Sept. 16, 2022, ahead of her funeral three days later.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
Following Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19, 2022, her casket traveled to Windsor, England, where she was interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle alongside her beloved parents, sister and husband.
On Sept. 24, 2022, Buckingham Palace released the first photo of the queen's final resting place, revealing a new Belgian black marble ledger stone with brass letter inlays indicating the royals who are buried there (Princess Margaret's ashes are also inside; a black stone resting on the wall features her name).
Princess Diana's funeral
On Sept. 6, 1997 — 26 years ago — a funeral for Princess Diana, whose divorce from Prince Charles (now King Charles III) had been finalized one year earlier, was held in London six days after she died in Paris following a tragic car crash.
Five of Princes Diana's male family members — former father-in-law Prince Philip, son Prince William, brother Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, son Prince Harry and ex-husband Prince Charles (now King Charles III) — followed her coffin past hundreds of thousands of mourners during her funeral procession to London's Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 6, 1997.
Keep reading for more photos from Diana's heartbreaking goodbye…
Princess Diana's funeral
A floral wreath with a heartbreaking card bearing the word "Mummy" was perched atop Princess Diana's draped casket as it left Westminster Abbey in London following her funeral on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
Guardsmen of the Prince of Wales Company of the Welsh Guards carried Princess Diana's casket into Westminster Abbey in London during her funeral on Sept. 6, 1997.
The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard and topped with floral arrangements from Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and brother, Earl Spencer.
She was buried on an island in an oval lake at Althorp House, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire, England. According to her former butler Paul Burrell, her brother removed the Royal Standard before she was buried at their childhood home and replaced it with the Spencer family flag.
Princess Diana's funeral
Five male family members — former father-in-law Prince Philip, son Prince William, brother Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, son Prince Harry and ex-husband Prince Charles — followed Princess Diana's casket on foot past hundreds of thousands of mourners during her funeral procession to Westminster Abbey in London.
The image seen here remains one of the most haunting and memorable photos from the sad day.
Princess Diana's funeral
Sir Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral of his close friend Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
Queen Elizabeth II wiped away a tear as she arrived at Westminster Abbey in London with senior clergy, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for the funeral of Princess Diana on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
This photo was taken on the day of Princess Diana's funeral in London, Sept. 6, 1997, and shows some of the more than 1 million bouquets of flowers that the public laid in front of her London home, Kensington Palace.
Princess Diana's funeral
This is an aerial view of the flowers and mementos that mourners left outside the gates of Princess Diana's London home, Kensington Palace, the day before her funeral on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
Hollywood stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Steven Spielberg, Sting, Trudie Styler and other guests are seen at Westminster Abbey in London for Princess Diana's funeral on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
Police kept enormous crowds of mourners back from the road as the hearse carrying the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales drove down The Mall toward Buckingham Palace in London following her funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 6, 1997, on its way to her family estate, Althorp, where she was privately buried on a small island.
Princess Diana's funeral
Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Sir Tim Laurence, Sarah, Duchess of York and Princess Eugenie were photographed leaving Westminster Abbey in London after the funeral service for Princess Diana on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
Princess Margaret, son Viscount Linley (who's now the Earl of Snowdon) and his then-wife, Lady Serena Linley, paused to look at tributes left by the public as they left Westminster Abbey in London after the funeral service for Princess Diana on Sept. 6, 1997.
Princess Diana's funeral
This is an aerial view of the island in the ornamental lake known as The Round Oval on the grounds of the Spencer family estate in Althorp, England, where Princess Diana was buried following her funeral on Sept. 6, 1997.
There are 36 oak trees lining a path to the lake — one for each year of her life.
Prince Philip's funeral
Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh — Queen Elizabeth II's devoted husband of 73 years — was laid to rest on April 17, 2021, in an intimate yet glorious funeral he helped plan himself before his death at 99 on April 9, 2021.
His casket was driven atop a Land Rover Defender — which he helped design for just this purpose — across the grounds of Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel on April 17, 2021.
Keep reading for more photos from Philip's funeral…
Prince Philip's funeral
In one of the most poignant images from the day, a solitary Queen Elizabeth II is seen alone in her seat as the funeral service for her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, prepared to start inside St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.
Prince Philip's funeral
Duchess Kate (now the Princess of Wales) was photographed as she arrived from London for the funeral of grandfather-in-law Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on April 17, 2021.
Prince Philip's funeral
Prince Philip's four children — Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III); and Princess Anne, the Princess Royal — are seen right before they began to walk in their father's funeral procession at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.
Prince Philip's funeral
Members of Britain's royal family adhered to social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic during Prince Philip's funeral at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.
Seen here among the guests, who were limited to 30 in keeping with the U.K.'s COVID-19 guidance for funerals, are Duchess Kate, Prince William, Prince Edward, Viscount Severn, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, the Earl of Snowdon, Peter Phillips, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie of York, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice of York.
Prince Philip's funeral
Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, Peter Phillips, Prince Harry, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence followed Prince Philip's coffin, which was covered with his personal standard and secured atop a Land Rover he helped design, during the ceremonial procession to St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on April 17, 2021.
Prince Philip's funeral
Prince Philip's grandsons Peter Phillips, Prince William and Prince Harry walked behind his casket during his funeral at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
A portrait of Princess Margaret hung in a gift shop behind a reflection of Windsor Castle, where her funeral service was held on Feb. 15, 2002.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
The body of Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, lay at rest in The Queen's Chapel at St. James's Palace in London on Feb. 12, 2002, three days after her death that Feb. 9 from a stroke at 71.
Her funeral was held about an hour away in Windsor, England, on Feb. 15.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
Two military knights guarded the coffin of Princess Margaret before her funeral in St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Feb. 15, 2002.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
Members of Britain's royal family — Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Prince Harry, Sophie, Countess of Wessex (now Duchess of Edinburgh), Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Princess Anne — arrived for the funeral of Princess Margaret at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Feb. 15, 2002.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
Princess Margaret's children — Lady Sarah Chatto and David Armstrong-Jones, then known as Viscount Linley (now 2nd Earl of Snowdon) — were photographed with their aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, on the steps of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle following their mother's funeral service on Feb. 15, 2002.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
David Armstrong-Jones, then known as Viscount Linley, followed mother Princess Margaret's coffin as it left St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during her funeral on Feb. 15, 2002.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
Princess Margaret's children — Lady Sarah Chatto and David Armstrong-Jones, then known as Lord Linley — were joined by their aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Prince Philip, Lady Serena Linley and Daniel Chatto as they watched Margaret's coffin leave St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle following her funeral service on Feb. 15, 2002.
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon's funeral
Mourners watched the hearse carrying the coffin of Princess Margaret leave Windsor Castle after her funeral service on its way to Slough Crematorium in Berkshire, England, on Feb. 15, 2002.
The Countess of Snowdon is one of the few royals who chose to be cremated rather than buried. She is interred alongside her parents and sister in their small family chapel inside St. George's Chapel.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Four of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's grandchildren — Prince Andrew, Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Princess Anne and Prince Edward — joined her son-in-law, Prince Philip, as they walked in her funeral cortege toward Westminster Abbey in central London on April 9, 2002.
She died that March 30 at 101 at her home, Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park, where grandson Andrew, the Duke of York, now lives.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Members of Britain's royal family — Prince William, Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Prince Harry, Prince Philip, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, Sophie, Countess of Wessex (now Duchess of Edinburgh), Peter Phillips, Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence — followed the coffin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother out of London's Westminster Abbey at the end of her funeral on April 9, 2002.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and other members of the royal family watched as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was prepared to be carried from Westminster Abbey at the conclusion of her funeral service on April 9, 2002.
Atop the casket was a handwritten note from her daughter, the monarch, that read "In loving memory" and was signed "Lilibet" — the late queen consort's nickname for her first-born child, who was by her bedside when she passed at 101.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's coffin was driven back up the Mall from Westminster Abbey in London on April 9, 2002, on its way to St. George's Chapel in Windsor, England, about an hour away, where she was laid to rest next to her husband, King George VI.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Many global royals attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on April 9, 2002. A few of them — Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia (front), Spain's then-King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (center) and Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja (rear) — are seen leaving Westminster Abbey in London following the funeral service, which was the culmination of more than a week of mourning for the royal matriarch, who died that March 30 at 101.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Baroness Margaret Thatcher, a former U.K. prime minister, and husband Dennis Thatcher arrived at London's Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on April 9, 2002.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is seen passing Buckingham Palace on the day of her funeral, April 9, 2002.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's funeral
Following her funeral in Westminster Abbey in London, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was buried in the George VI Memorial Chapel inside St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle next to her late husband, King George VI, who died in 1952.
The ashes of their younger daughter, Princess Margaret — who died seven weeks before the Queen Mother — have also been interred there.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II was also interred here.
King George VI's funeral
On Feb. 11, 1952, newly widowed Queen Elizabeth (who took the name Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother), daughters Queen Elizabeth II — the new monarch — and Princess Margaret and son-in-law Prince Philip watched as King George VI's coffin was carried from a train before traveling to Westminster Hall in London where he lay in state for several days before being taken to Windsor, England, for his funeral at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Feb. 15.
King George VI — who was previously known as Prince Albert, Duke of York before he took the throne following his brother King Edward VIII's abdication — died on Feb. 6, 1952, at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England, from a blood clot after years of ill health including a lung cancer diagnosis.
King George VI's funeral
The grief-stricken family of the late King George VI are seen at his funeral on Feb. 15, 1952: The new Queen Elizabeth II; her grandmother, Queen Mary — the mother of the late king also known as Mary of Teck; and the king's widow, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
King George VI's funeral
This photo was taken during the funeral of King George VI at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Feb. 15, 1952. In front of the altar is the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Geoffrey Fisher.
Immediately behind the late monarch's coffin are the heavily veiled Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and the Princes Royal, King George VI's sister Princess Mary.
King George VI's funeral
On Feb. 14, 1952 — the day before King George VI's funeral — his elder brother, the Duke of Windsor (known as King Edward VIII before his abdication); mother Queen Mary; and sister Princess Mary made their way to pay their respects at the late king's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall in London.
King George VI's funeral
A veiled Queen Elizabeth II, followed by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, prepared to leave Westminster Hall in London in a carriage for the funeral of King George VI on Feb. 15, 1952.
King George VI's funeral
Naval ratings drew the gun carriage bearing the coffin of Britain's King George VI — who died on Feb. 6, 1952 and was buried on Feb. 15, 1952 — from London's Hyde Park as the funeral procession approached Marble Arch en route to Paddington Station to take his body to Windsor for burial. The coach following behind carried Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and the king's sister, Princess Mary.
Queen Mary's funeral
Royal dukes followed the coffin of Queen Mary — the widow of King George V and mother of King George VI, who'd died the previous year — during her funeral procession through London from Marlborough House to Westminster Hall on March 31, 1953.
Shown are Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Queen Elizabeth II's husband); Edward, Duke of Windsor, and Henry, Duke of Gloucester (her sons); and Edward, Duke of Kent (her grandson). She passed away in her sleep at 85 that March 24.
Queen Mary's funeral
British subjects mourned as the funeral cortege of Queen Mary — Queen Elizabeth II's paternal grandmother who's also known as Mary of Teck — made its way through London on March 29, 1953.
She was buried an hour away next to husband King George V at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where 10 former sovereigns have been laid to rest.
Queen Mary's funeral
The funeral cortege of Queen Mary made its way through London past the Cenotaph on March 29, 1953.
Former King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor's funeral
The Duchess of Windsor — the twice-divorced American for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne and became the Duke of Windsor — walked from his funeral service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on June 5, 1977.
It was the former Wallis Simpson's first and last public appearance with the royal family in England since she and her husband were exiled following his abdication. She flew home to Paris immediately after the burial.
Former King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor's funeral
The casket of the Duke of Windsor, Britain's former King Edward VIII, was carried by Welsh Guardsmen from St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after his private funeral service on June 5, 1972.
The royal, who died in exile at his home in France following a battle with throat cancer, was laid to rest in the royal burial grounds at Frogmore House nearby, behind the Royal Mausoleum of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Former King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor's funeral
The public lined up outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, during the lying-in-state of the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, in June 1972 ahead of his funeral on June 5.
Former King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor's funeral
Officers of the Grenadier Guards — the royal's old regiment– stood in silent vigil around his coffin as the Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII, lay in state at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before his funeral service on June 5, 1977.
The Duchess of Windsor's funeral
Prince Charles (now King Charles III), Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip attended the funeral of the Duchess of Windsor — the former Wallis Simpson, widow of the Duke of Windsor (formerly King Edward VIII, who abdicated so he could marry her) — at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 29, 1986.
Wallis died at her home in Paris that April 24 — two months before her 90th birthday and eight months before the 50th anniversary of Edward's abdication. Wallis is interred next to him in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore House in Windsor, England.
The Duchess of Windsor's funeral
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles (now Kings Charles III) and Princess Diana are seen on the steps of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle during the April 29, 1986, funeral of the Duchess of Windsor — who's perhaps better known as the former Wallis Simpson, the American widow of the Duke of Windsor, who was briefly King Edward VIII.
King George V's funeral
Thousands of people lined the streets for the state funeral procession of King George V, who was buried on Jan. 28, 1936, following his death eight days earlier. He's Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather and was a grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
King Edward VII's funeral
Britain's newly minted King George V walked behind the coffin of his father, King Edward VII — the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert — during the funeral procession on May 20, 1910, following the monarch's death at 68 at Buckingham Palace in London two weeks earlier. Edward VII was buried in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
