The Queen’s Coffin: A Heavy Responsibility
When Queen Elizabeth II passes away, she will be laid to rest in a coffin of English oak, lined with lead and featuring brass handles that were designed more than 30 years ago. It is estimated that the coffin will weigh between 250kg and 317kg, a heavy responsibility for the pallbearers who will bear the coffin to its final resting place.
The coffin was commissioned by the Queen herself in 1988, and was designed by the Royal Household’s cabinet maker, David Evans. The oak used to make the coffin was sourced from the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. The coffin is designed to last for centuries, and will be fitted with a special brass plate featuring the Queen’s name and dates of birth and death.
The weight of the coffin is significant, as it will be carried by six pallbearers from the Queen’s Household Cavalry. The pallbearers will be dressed in full ceremonial uniform, and will carry the coffin on their shoulders for the duration of the funeral procession. The coffin will be placed in a gun carriage, which will be pulled by a team of horses.
The Queen’s coffin is a symbol of her life and legacy, and will be a lasting reminder of her reign. It is a fitting tribute to the longest-serving monarch in British history, and a reminder of the weight of responsibility that comes with the role of Queen.
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