Where will the Queen be buried? Details of Her Majesty's final resting place

We share the all important details on where the Queen will be buried, following her passing last week.

Thursday 8 September 2022 marked a sad and historic day for the UK and Commonwealth, as Queen Elizabeth II died "peacefully" aged 96 - after an incredible seven decades on the throne. In the aftermath of her passing, royal fans have been sharing tributes and laying flowers for a monarch who meant so much to so many. So it's no surprise that the public want to know more about her upcoming funeral and where she will eventually be laid to rest.

As a previous member of the royal line of succession and former Queen she is expected to be buried in an extra-special location alongside a host of previous monarchs.

Where will the Queen be buried?

Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in the King George VI memorial chapel, in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The chapel located next to the North Quire aisle in the building, was built between 1968 and 1969 and commemorates it's namesake - King George VI, the Queen's father.

Her Majesty's coffin will be laid to rest alongside her father, the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret. King George's VI's coffin was originally placed in the Royal Vault following his death in February 1952. But it was later transferred to the chapel upon it's completion on 26 March 1969.

The memorial chapel pays tribute to the Queen's father, the founding member of the royal firm. And as such a plaque of George VI's head is hung on the wall above his engraved grave on the floor.

The Queen's sister Princess Margaret joined the memorial chapel in 2002. But instead of a grave, her ashes are placed next to her parents. The late Countess of Snowdon chose to be cremated and not buried.

Will the Queen be buried with Prince Philip?

Yes, Queen Elizabeth II will be buried with Prince Philip. Prince Philip was temporarily laid to rest in the Royal Vault at Windsor Castle on 17 April 2021. His coffin is expected to be moved to King George VI's memorial chapel to join his wife following her funeral.

It seems fitting that the Queen and Prince Philip be together forever especially as the couple were married for over 73 years. Around the time of his death and Prince Philip's funeral, the Queen described her late husband as her "strength and stay".

Prince Philip is in good company in the Royal Vault, which is the resting place of several British monarchs including King George III, IV and V.

His mother Princess Alice of Battenberg was also temporarily placed in the royal crypt upon her death in 1969. Though she was later moved to the Church of Mary Magdalene, Jerusalem in 1988. This was apparently where she wished to be laid.

What is the Royal Vault and who is buried there?

1. Princess Amelia, daughter of George III - 1810)
2. Princess Augusta, Duchess of Brunswick, sister of George III - 1813
3. Stillborn son of Princess Charlotte - 1817
4. Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV - 1817
5. Queen Charlotte, wife of George III - 1818
6. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria - 1820
7. King George III - 1820
8. Prince Alfred, son of George III - died 1782, placed in vault 1820
9. Prince Octavius, son of George III - died 1783, placed in vault 1820
10. Princess Elizabeth, daughter of William IV - 1821
11. Prince Frederick, Duke of York - 1827
12. King George IV - 1830
13. Still-born daughter of Prince Ernest Augustus, son of George III - 1818)
14. King William IV - 1837
15. Princess Sophia, daughter of George III - 1840
16. Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV - 1849
17. Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein, son of Princess Christian - 1876
18. King George V of Hanover - 1878
19. Victoria von Pawel Rammingen, daughter of Princess Frederica of Hanover - 1881
20. Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, mother of Queen Mary - 1897
21. Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, father of Queen Mary - 1900
22. Princess Frederika of Hanover - 1926
23. Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, grandfather of Queen Mary - died 1850, placed in vault 1930
24. Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge, grandmother of Queen Mary - died 1889, placed in vault 1930
25. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II - 2021

The Royal Vault is a crypt situated beneath St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Over 200 years old, it was commissioned by King George III in 1804 and has since became the famous resting place of British monarchs, superseding Westminster Abbey. To date, there are 25 members of the Royal Family buried in the vault.

What does the Royal Vault look like?

The vault is a stone-lined room with wall shelves that hold the coffins. It also features a small altar at the far end, where in the past royals would go to reflect and pay tribute to their lossed loved ones. Close to the entrance of the vault is a plinth where the latest arrival - in this case Prince Philip - is placed, before being moved to their final resting place.

Who is buried at Frogmore?

Not all royals are buried in the royal vault though. Queen Victoria built herself a mausoleum at Frogmore in Windsor Great Park, which is where she and her husband Prince Albert lay. Frogmore also features the Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson in the Royal Burial Ground.

According to Lady Glenconner, a former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret, the royal did not want her resting place to be Frogmore. "She told me that she found Frogmore very gloomy," she said, according to The Scotsman. Instead it was Margaret's wish to join her father King George VI in the memorial chapel at St George's.

Who is buried at Westminster Abbey?

Prior to the vault, royalty were buried at London's Westmister Abbey. 16 former kings and queens of England can be found here, with the last being King George II in 1760. It was his son George III who went forth and built the royal vault at Windsor - in part to the fact that there was limited space for future burials.

Though Queen Elizabeth II will not be buried at Westminster Abbey, her state funeral will take place at the historic London venue that has a long-holding royal connection.

What coffin will the Queen be buried in?

The Queen is to be buried in a lead-lined coffin, which is the traditional choice for royal family members. This is because it is airtight and helps preserve the body for longer, preventing moisture from getting in.

Factors like this have to be considered with regard to the Queen lying in state. Her coffin will be on display at Westminster Hall in London for a short period before her funeral, so that members of the public can go and pay their respects. Open 23 hours a day, mourners can visit from Wednesday 14 September until 6:30am on the day of her funeral.

Those watching coverage in the aftermath of the Queen's death, will have already seen her coffin on television, as it made the six-hour journey from her Balmoral estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the royal family's official Scottish residence, based in Edinburgh.

The coffin was topped with a number of flowers - dahlias, sweet peas, and pine fir from the Balmoral Estate— and was draped in the Scottish Royal Standard flag. It will be seen again during the drive to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh where a special service will take place Monday.

Prince Philip's coffin was also made from English oak and lined with lead. It was reported that this was made thirty years prior by specialists Henry Smith:

"Henry Smith were the last coffin makers in London," author and funeral historian Brian Parson says. "They specialised in high-end coffins and were known to be the best, so it's no surprise the Royals picked them. The coffin would have taken weeks to make."

Will the Queen have a state funeral?

Yes King Charles has confirmed that his mother Queen Elizabeth II will receive a state funeral. The funeral - taking place Monday 19 September 2022 at Westminster Abbey - will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury with Royal Family members, politicians and heads of state from across the globe in attendance.

Arrangements for the funeral have been confirmed by the official Royal Family website: "The Coffin will be taken in Procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will take place.

"Following the State Funeral, the Coffin will travel in Procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. From Wellington Arch, the Coffin will travel to Windsor and once there, the State Hearse will travel in Procession to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle via the Long Walk."

They added: "A Committal Service will then take place in St George's Chapel." Though this is expected to be a private service for close family members and friends, with no media access. 

The day of the Queen's funeral has also been confirmed as a bank holiday which means that the majority of businesses and retailers will be closed. The London Stock Exchange, plus banks across the UK will also close on the day.

According to Politico, plans called 'Operation Feather' detail that the Queen's coffin will "lie in state at the Palace of Westminster for three days" before her funeral. This will allow members of the public to come and pay their respects to their Queen.

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