‘The government’s priorities were that these events ran smoothly and with the appropriate level of dignity’
The Queen’s funeral and related events cost the government about £162 million, the Treasury said Thursday,
The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022, followed by a period of national mourning.
During that time hundreds of thousands of people visited the monarch as she lay in state.
The biggest costs were covered by the Home Office, £74m, and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, £57m.
The Treasury said that the queen’s funeral and her lying in state cost the taxpayer £161.743 million.
In a statement, chief secretary to Treasury John Glen said: “The death of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 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 19 September.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Queen Elizabeth, who was born in 1926 and came to the throne in 1952, died at Balmoral Castle on September 8.
She was 96.
Her son, Charles, was crowned earlier this month.
Related links:
Head of UK anti-monarchy group Republic arrested at coronation protest
Prince Andrew booed by crowds as he travels to King’s Coronation
Trevor Sinclair apologises for ‘ill-timed’ tweet about The Queen’s death
