Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is actually two coffins. It’s lined with lead. And it was made so long ago, some details about it have become lost to history. Here’s what we do know about this curious casket. Operation London Bridge — the protocol for handling the queen’s death — was set into motion as soon as Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
The meticulous planning for her death began shortly after Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952, after her father’s death. In a New York Times article, British Commonwealth and history professor Philip Murphy said, “From the moment the queen became monarch, [the British government] started the planning process about what would happen when she died.
” Throughout the years, those involved in the planning — including the police, the media, and the government — reportedly met three times a year to discuss and change Operation London Bridge as necessary. Even the queen herself was involved in planning her funeral. “The funeral service will be held at Westminster Abbey, the location where her reign began.
” In 2021, Politico obtained the details of Operation London Bridge and outlined the events that would take place up to 10 days after the queen’s death. The thorough planning, of course, also included the coffin in which Queen Elizabeth II will be buried. Members of the royal family are commonly buried in lead-lined coffins because lead helps keep the body preserved for longer.
The heavy metal prevents moisture from entering the coffin and slows down the decomposition process. According to Technology, the practice dates back quite a while, to when there weren’t other techniques available to preserve a body. Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was manufactured by a company called Henry Smith, which closed in 2005.
According to The Daily Mail, the company was established in 1869 and manufactured caskets by hand. It’s the same company that provided the coffins for other well-known personalities including Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, actress, and singer Diana Dors, musician Jimi Hendrix, and the queen’s late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Telegraph reports the queen’s coffin was ordered and made more than 30 years before her death. When Henry Smith closed, the company T Cribb & Sons took over. Records were lost in the transition, so the exact date of manufacture cannot be determined. Traditionally, royal coffins are made from English oak taken from the Sandringham estate.
Today, it is rare for coffins to be made of English oak. It’s difficult to procure and is often prohibitively pricey. Most of today’s oak coffins are made from American oak. The exact details of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin are difficult to confirm, as they were lost with Henry Smith’s records.
What is known is that it took about a week for the coffin to be completed. The detailing on the coffin — fitments, clasps, and handles — was reportedly provided by the now-defunct company Newman Brothers, a coffin furniture manufacturer that was located on Fleet Street in Birmingham. The details were specifically designed for royal caskets, and the fitments were created to securely hold the queen’s orb, scepter, and crown on top of the coffin.
After the queen’s coffin was manufactured, it was initially kept and maintained by JH Kenyon Ltd. In 1991, it was transferred to Leverton & Sons as the royal family started using that company’s services. Since Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is lined with lead, it is significantly heavier than a standard coffin.
Eight pallbearers are required to carry it instead of just six. Metro reports that Princess Diana’s coffin, which was also lined with lead, weighed about 500 pounds. Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is essentially a coffin within a coffin; the inner coffin is made of wood and then protected with lead, and it is placed inside an outer coffin.
The process is called the lead shell and the case method, according to Telegraph. Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was first revealed to the public three days after her death. The Scottish royal standard flag was draped over it. An arrangement of sweet peas and dahlias picked from the grounds at Balmoral Castle was displayed on top of her coffin as well, according to France24.
After 10 days of mourning, Queen Elizabeth’s remains will be transported to Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel. Like Elizabeth’s coffin is one inside another, there’s another chapel inside St. George’s: King George VI Memorial Chapel, where Queen Elizabeth’s parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother, are also interred.
The remains of Princess Margaret, the queen’s sister who died in 2002, are also in the chapel.
WECIALG THE WORLD PREPARING TO SAY GOODBYE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II.
PREPARING TO SAY GOODBYE TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II. HEADS OF STATE FROM ALL OVER THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II. HEADS OF STATE FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE ARE IN THE UK RIGHT NOW HEADS OF STATE FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE ARE IN THE UK RIGHT NOW INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN AND GLOBE ARE IN UK RIGHT NOW INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE FIRST LADY.
INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE FIRST LADY. >> Alex: LOCAL 10 NEWS ANCHOR THE FIRST LADY. >> Alex: LOCAL 10 NEWS ANCHOR NICOLE PEREZ IS IN BRITAIN WITH >> Alex: LOCAL 10 NEWS ANCHOR NICOLE PEREZ IS IN BRITAIN WITH HOW BRITAIN’S LONGEST REIGNING NICOLE PEREZ IS IN BRITAIN WITH HOW BRITAIN’S LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH IS BEING LAID TO REST, HOW BRITAIN’S LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH IS BEING LAID TO REST, NICOLE.
MONARCH IS BEING LAID TO REST, NICOLE. >> Reporter: AND WE’RE STILL NICOLE. >> Reporter: AND WE’RE STILL WAITING IN LINE FOR THE PEOPLE >> Reporter: AND WE’RE STILL WAITING IN LINE FOR THE PEOPLE TO PAY RESPECTS TO QUEEN WAITING IN LINE FOR THE PEOPLE TO PAY RESPECTS TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II.
TO PAY RESPECTS TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II. THE WAIT IN LINE IS 14 HOURS AS ELIZABETH II. THE WAIT IN LINE IS 14 HOURS AS PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WAY OVER. THE WAIT IN LINE IS 14 HOURS AS PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WAY OVER. AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY HERE. PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WAY OVER. AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY HERE. THIS HE IS HAPPY TO BE HERE.
AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY HERE. THIS HE IS HAPPY TO BE HERE. OFFICIALS CLOSED THE LINE TWICE HE IS HAPPY TO BE HERE. OFFICIALS CLOSED THE LINE TWICE BEFORE BECAUSE THEY REACHED OFFICIALS CLOSED THE LINE TWICE BEFORE BECAUSE THEY REACHED CAPACITY AND THEN REOPENED IT BEFORE BECAUSE THEY REACHED CAPACITY AND THEN REOPENED IT AGAIN.
CAPACITY AND THEN REOPENED IT AGAIN. THERE IS ALSO 10,000 OFFICER PA AGAIN. AND LET’S SHOW YOU A LOOK FROM A OF MOVEMENT THE LINE ABOUT AND LET’S SHOW YOU A LOOK FROM A OF MOVEMENT THE LINE ABOUT 6 MILES LONG AS OF YESTERDAY.
OF MOVEMENT THE LINE IS ABOUT 6 MILES LONG AS OF YESTERDAY. THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CALL 6 MILES LONG AS OF YESTERDAY. THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CALL EVENTUALLY TO CLOSE IT AT SOME THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CALL EVENTUALLY TO CLOSE IT AT SOME POINT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE EVENTUALLY TO CLOSE IT AT SOME POINT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THE POINT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THE LINE CAN PAY RESPECTS TO THE SURE EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THE LINE CAN PAY RESPECTS TO THE QUEEN.
LINE CAN PAY RESPECTS TO THE QUEEN. THE HALL WILL CLOSE TOMORROW QUEEN. THE HALL WILL CLOSE TOMORROW MORNING AT 6:30 BEFORE THE THE HALL WILL CLOSE TOMORROW MORNING AT 6:30 BEFORE THE FUNERAL. MORNING AT 6:30 BEFORE THE FUNERAL. MEANWHILE, YOU GUYS MENTIONED 500 FUNERALS. MEANWHILE, YOU GUYS MENTIONED 500 HEADS OF STATE MAKING THEIR WAY MEANWHILE YOU GUYS MENTIONED 500 HEADS OF STATE MAKING THEIR WAY TO LONDON TODAY.
HEADS OF STATE MAKING THEIR WAY TO LONDON TODAY. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TOUCHING TO LONDON TODAY. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TOUCHING DOWN IN LONDON LAST NIGHT HEAD >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN TOUCHING DOWN IN LONDON LAST NIGHT HEAD OF THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL MONDAY. DOWN IN LONDON LAST NIGHT HEAD OF THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL MONDAY.
MEANWHILE AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT AS OF THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL MONDAY. MEANWHILE, AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT AS THE QUEEN’S GRANDCHILDREN STOOD MEANWHILE AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT AS THE QUEEN’S GRANDCHILDREN STOOD VIGIL BESIDE HER COFFIN. THE QUEEN’S GRANDCHILDREN STOOD VIGIL BESIDE HER COFFIN. THIS AS THOSE PEOPLE BRAVED THE VIGIL BESIDE HER COFFIN.
THIS AS THOSE PEOPLE BRAVED THE COLD MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THIS AS THOSE PEOPLE BRAVED THE COLD MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH CENTRAL LONDON IN SOME CASES 22 COLD MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH CENTRAL LONDON IN SOME CASES 22 HOURS. CENTRAL LONDON IN SOME CASES 22 HOURS. WE’VE GOT FOUR HOURS TO GO AND HOURS.
WE’VE GOT FOUR HOURS TO GO AND IT WILL BE REFLECTIVE. WE’VE GOT FOUR HOURS TO GO AND IT WILL BE REFLECTIVE. SO THAT’S WHAT IT’S ABOUT. IT WILL BE REFLECTIVE. SO THAT’S WHAT IT’S ABOUT. >> THAT’S WHAT IT’S ABOUT FOR SO THAT’S WHAT IT’S ABOUT. >> THAT’S WHAT IT’S ABOUT FOR YOU? >> THAT’S WHAT IT’S ABOUT FOR YOU? >> YES, REFLECTION.
YOU? >> YES, REFLECTION. IT’S A BRITISH THING TO DO. >> YES, REFLECTION. IT’S A BRITISH THING TO DO. THEY ARE CALLING IT THE COUGH IT’S A BRITISH THING TO DO. THEY ARE CALLING IT THE COUGH ALL CUES. THEY ARE CALLING IT THE COUGH ALL CUES. >> Reporter: THIS LINE ALL CUES.
Reporter: THIS LINE STRETCHING FOR MILES AROUND THE >> Reporter: THIS LINE STRETCHING FOR MILES AROUND THE CITY’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS. STRETCHING FOR MILES AROUND THE CITY’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS. SOME MOURNERS GETTING A VISIT BY CITY’S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS. SOME MOURNERS GETTING A VISIT BY PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE.
SOME MOURNERS GETTING A VISIT BY PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE. >> AND AUDREY BLUNT, A PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE. >> AND AUDREY BLUNT, A SELF-PROCLAIMED ENTHUSIASTS >> AND AUDREY BLUNT, A SELF-PROCLAIMED ENTHUSIASTS WOULD NOT BE JOINING THE CUE BUT SELF-PROCLAIMED ENTHUSIASTS WOULD NOT BE JOINING THE CUE BUT HAD TO COME OUT AND SEE IT.
WOULD NOT BE JOINING THE CUE BUT HAD TO COME OUT AND SEE IT. I’VE SEEN A LOT OF CUES IN MY HAD TO COME OUT AND SEE IT. I’VE SEEN A LOT OF CUES IN MY LIFETIME. I’VE SEEN A LOT OF CUES IN MY LIFETIME. I’VE SEEN FESTIVAL CUES AND JOB LIFETIME. I’VE SEEN FESTIVAL CUES AND JOB CUES BUT NOTHING AS COMPARED TO I’VE SEEN FESTIVAL CUES AND JOB CUES BUT NOTHING AS COMPARED TO THIS CUE.
CUES BUT NOTHING AS COMPARED TO THIS CUE. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE AS THIS CUE. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE AS PREPARATIONS FOR THE QUEEN’S >> Reporter: MEANWHILE AS PREPARATIONS FOR THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL IS UNDERWAY, KING PREPARATIONS FOR THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL IS UNDERWAY, KING MEETING WITH THE LEADERS IN DOWN FUNERAL IS UNDERWAY, KING MEETING WITH THE LEADERS IN DOWN INCLUDING THE LEADERS OF CANADA, MEETING WITH THE LEADERS IN DOWN INCLUDING THE LEADERS OF CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND INCLUDING THE LEADERS OF CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND JAMAICA.
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND JAMAICA. THE QUEEN CONSORT PAID TRIBUTE TO JAMAICA. THE QUEEN CONSORT PAID TRIBUTE TO THE QUEENS. THE QUEEN CONSORT PAID TRIBUTE TO THE QUEENS. SHE HAD THOSE WONDERFUL BLUE TO THE QUEENS. SHE HAD THOSE WONDERFUL BLUE EYES, WHEN SHE SMILES, SHE HAD THOSE WONDERFUL BLUE EYES, WHEN SHE SMILES, THEY LIGHT UP HER WHOLE FACE.
EYES, WHEN SHE SMILES, THEY LIGHT UP HER WHOLE FACE. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT LIGHT UP HER WHOLE FACE. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SMILE. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SMILE. THAT SMILE IS UNFORGETTABLE. SMILE. THAT SMILE IS UNFORGETTABLE. >> Reporter: SO WE ARE RIGHT THAT SMILE IS UNFORGETTABLE.
Reporter: SO WE ARE RIGHT ALONG THE TENS RIVER. >> Reporter: SO WE ARE RIGHT ALONG THE TENS RIVER. THE PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE ALONG THE TENS RIVER. THE PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE LINE WILL GO UP THE BRIDGE AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE LINE WILL GO UP THE BRIDGE AND THEN MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN.
LINE WILL GO UP THE BRIDGE AND THEN MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN. THEY STILL HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER THEN MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN. THEY STILL HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE TO GO. THEY STILL HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER MILE TO GO. YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MILES TO GO. YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING TO SOME OF THE OFFICIALS HERE AND YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING TO SOME OF THE OFFICIALS HERE AND THEY SAID THIS LINE AT THIS AREA SOME OF THE OFFICIAL HERE AND THEY SAID THIS LINE AT THIS AREA PROBABLY HAS ANOTHER THREE TO THEY SAID THIS LINE AT THIS AREA PROBABLY HAS ANOTHER THREE TO FOUR HOURS TO GO BEFORE MAKING PROBABLY HAS ANOTHER THREE TO FOUR HOURS TO GO BEFORE MAKING IT TO THE HALL.
FOUR HOURS TO GO BEFORE MAKING IT TO THE HALL. EVERYONE’S PANTS WANT TO BE IN IT TO THE HALL. EVERYONE PANTS WANTS TO BE IN LINE IN PLACE BEFORE THEY CLOSE EVERYONE PANTS WANTS TO BE IN LINE IN PLACE BEFORE THEY CLOSE IT DOWN TODAY BECAUSE THE HALL LINE IN PLACE BEFORE THEY CLOSE IT DOWN TODAY BECAUSE THE HALL WILL CLOSE TOMORROW AT 6:30 IN IT DOWN TODAY BECAUSE THE HALL WILL CLOSE TOMORROW AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING.
WILL CLOSE TOMORROW AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING. THE COFFIN WILL GO FROM THE THE MORNING. THE COFFIN WILL GO FROM THE HACIALTION WESTMINSTER HALL TO THE COFFIN AND WILL GO FROM THE HACIALTION WESTMINSTER HALL TO THE ABBY AT 10:44. HACIALTION WESTMINSTER HALL TO THE ABBY AT 10:44. THE FUNERAL STARTS AT 11:00 IN THE ABBY AT 10:44.
THE FUNERAL STARTS AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING. THE FUNERAL STARTS AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING. ALEX AND ANDREW. THE MORNING. ALEX AND ANDREW. BACK TO YOU. ALEX AND ANDREW. BACK TO YOU. >> Alex: AND IT’S THE LAST BACK TO YOU. >> Alex: AND IT’S THE LAST FULL DAY OF THE QUEEN LYING IN >> Alex: AND IT’S THE LAST FULL DAY OF THE QUEEN LYING IN STATE.
FULL DAY OF THE QUEEN LYING IN STATE. IF THEY HAVEN’T GOTTEN IN LINE STATE. IF THEY HAVEN’T GOTTEN IN LINE TODAY HOW IT CAN THEY STILL PAY IF THEY HAVEN’T GOTTEN IN LINE TODAY HOW IT CAN THEY STILL PAY ARE TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN? TODAY HOW IT CAN THEY STILL PAY OUR TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN? >> Reporter: YES, SO THERE ARE TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN? >> Reporter: YES, SO THERE WILL BE A ONE MOMENT OF SILENCE >> Reporter: YES, SO THERE WILL BE A ONE MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE ENTIRE NATION TODAY 8:00 WILL BE A ONE MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE ENTIRE NATION TODAY 8:00 BIG BEND BEHIND ME WILL TOLL AS FOR THE ENTIRE NATION TODAY 8:00 BIG BEND BEHIND ME WILL TOLL AS WELL.
BIG BEND BEHIND ME WILL TOLL AS WELL. THIS REENCOURAGING ANYONE WHO IS WELL. THIS REENCOURAGING ANYONE WHO IS HOME, WORKING, WHEREVER YOU ARE, THIS REENCOURAGING ANYONE WHO IS HOME, WORKING, WHEREVER YOU ARE, TAKE THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HOME, WORKING, WHEREVER YOU ARE, TAKE THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PAY RESPECTS TO THE QUEEN EE QUE TAKE THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PAY RESPECTS TO THE QUEEN EE QUE ELIZABETH II.
PAY RESPECTS TO THE QUEEN EE QUE ELIZABETH II. TOMORROW AT THE FUNERAL OF ANOTHER ELIZABETH II. TOMORROW AT THE FUNERAL ANOTHER TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE THEN. TOMORROW AT THE FUNERAL ANOTHER TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE THEN. >> Andrew: AND NICOLE PEREZ TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE THEN. >> Andrew: AND NICOLE PEREZ LIVE IN LONDON, THANK YOU SO >> Andrew: AND NICOLE PEREZ LIVE IN LONDON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LIVE IN LONDON, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE’LL BRING YOU THE STATE MUCH. WE’LL BRING YOU THE STATE FUNERAL OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II WE’LL BRING YOU THE STATE FUNERAL FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II, BY THE WAY, TOMORROW MORNING. FUNERAL FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II BY THE WAY TOMORROW MORNING. OUR COVERAGE BEGINS BRIGHT AND BY THE WAY TOMORROW MORNING.
