What is a state funeral?
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honour people of national significance. These ceremonies are typically held during a period of national mourning, which gives the general public the chance to pay their respects. They follow strict protocol and involve elements from religious and military tradition.
What happens at a state funeral?
A state funeral is a public event that is publicly funded through taxes. It typically begins with carrying the body of the person that died by gun carriage, taking them from a private resting place to government building for public viewing. Here, their body will be ‘lying in state’ for several days, allowing members of the public to pay their respects.
This is then followed by another procession to Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral, depending on where the funeral service is, before the casket is laid. For a member of the royal family this would most likely be at Windsor.
Another notable difference between a state funeral and regular funeral is that state funeral will be televised and watched by millions of people around the world.
Who gets a state funeral?
In the UK, state funerals are usually reserved for monarchs. However, not all members of the royal family will automatically receive a state funeral. The late Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021, and Princess Diana, who died in 1997, both had a ceremonial funeral instead.
A ceremonial funeral, like a state funeral, includes lying in state, a procession with a gun carriage, and a funeral service which is attended by state representations, from home and abroad. Crucially, there are two main differences that distinguish these types of funerals.
A state funeral is organised and overseen by the Earl Marshal, a position traditionally held by the highest-ranking duke in England, and the gun carriage carrying the coffin is pulled by Royal Navy sailors using rope. A ceremonial funeral is organised by the Lord Chamberlain, an officer of the Royal Household, with the carriage carrying the coffin being pulled by horses.
In exceptional cases, a state funeral can also be held to honour highly distinguished figures outside of the monarchy. For example, the public have petitioned for Sir David Attenborough to receive a state funeral, who celebrates his 99th birthday this month, for his outstanding contribution to British cultural life. But the monarch and parliament would have to approve this first.
Who can attend a state funeral?
Although mourners are encouraged to pay their respects while the person receiving the state funeral is lying in state, who attends the actual service is far more exclusive. Guests will be limited to members of royalty from around the world, heads of state and foreign dignitaries, such as ambassadors and other high-ranking officials.
When was the last state funeral in the UK?
The most recent state funeral in the UK was held for Queen Elizabeth II, on the 19th of September 2022.
When was the last non-royal state funeral in the UK?
The last time a state funeral was held for someone who wasn’t part of the royal family was for Sir Winston Churchill, on the 30th of January 1965. This was in acknowledgement of his service to the nation throughout the Second World War.
If you’d like to know more about funeral etiquette, read one of our bereavement guides on attending a funeral.
