The UK Treasury reported on Thursday that the government spent over £162 million ($201.4 million) on the royal funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning queen, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022. National mourning lasted 10 days before her September 18 burial at Westminster Abbey. Many activities were canceled, but most companies and offices were operating.
In London, where Queen Elizabeth II was lying in state, around 250,000 people paid their respects. Many individuals patiently stood in line for more than 24 hours.
Queen Elizabeth II was buried in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
CNBC reported that UK government expenses on the ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth II's death were recently disclosed. The Home Office spent £73.68 million, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport spent £57.42 million, the Department for Transport got £2.565 million, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office consumed £2.096 million, and the Ministry of Defence had £2.89 million.
The central UK compensated Scotland's £18.756 million expenditures for a leisurely hearse procession and a one-day laying in state.
Public Safety Was Prioritized
The Treasury's chief secretary, John Glen, said the UK government's primary goal was to execute these events with dignity while ensuring public safety and security, per the BBC.
The UK police called the state burial and mourning preparations for Queen Elizabeth II's death "probably the biggest operation" in the country at the time.
According to Glen's written ministerial statement to Parliament, the UK Treasury supplied extra cash when required, and the governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland received full reimbursement for their respective expenses.
Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was the largest ceremonial occasion since World War II and the first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill's in 1965.
King Charles III's coronation took place earlier this month; the costs associated with it have not yet been made public, although estimates place the whole cost at around £100 million, according to Town & Country.
