BBC History Magazine

The history that shaped the Queen's funeral

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 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.

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