Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in an English oak coffin featuring brass handles that were designed more than 30 years ago, and lined with lead. It is estimated the coffin weighs between 250kg and 317kg.
The combination of lead and oak makes for a heavy coffin, so heavy in fact, it is reported that eight military pallbearers will be needed to lift Queen Elizabeth II's coffin. The Queen will lie in state starting Wednesday at Westminster Hall until the funeral.
Queen Elizabeth's coffin has been made following a Royal tradition that makes such distinguished burial caskets a heavy load for the members of the Armed Forces in the bearer parties who have carried Her Majesty with pride and respect on her final journey around the UK.
Coffins and caskets alone, on average, can weigh around 25-40kg, but can weigh up to 100kg. The actual weight including the deceased will, of course, vary.
Lead-lined coffins slow the body's decomposition by keeping moisture out of the casket. Lead does not decay and so remains airtight, preventing decomposition, but also any smells and gases from being released; not something you want if multiple Royals are sharing a vault or may be moved in the future.
The pallbearers hail from the Queen's Company, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. 'It's their role to protect her body, both in life and in death, remaining in the Queen's Company until King Charles decides otherwise,' explained Major Adrian Weale to the PA.
Due to the lead lining of the coffin, the casket would be very heavy. It has been estimated that it would weigh between 250kg and 317kg.
Know the weight of the person in the coffin and bear in mind that wooden coffins are also quite heavy, adding up to 20kg. If the load is more than 90kgs (14 stones) you will need six bearers. If the load is more than 125 kilos (20 stones), you should think very carefully about carrying the coffin.
How Heavy Coffin Is? One thing that does surprise many people during a funeral is the weight of the coffin when they lift it. It is not just a case of lifting the body of the deceased individual but it is also the weight of the coffin itself and that is why several people are required to help lift it.
Hinges and clasps are standard for most caskets, while handles and rods will ease the casket's handling. When made of solid metals or brass, the hardware becomes quite heavy, adding weight to the casket.
The Lord Chamberlain poignantly "broke" his Wand of Office over the coffin, and placed the pieces there. Finally, the coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, as the Dean of Windsor read Psalm 103, including the emotional line, "Go forth upon thy journey from this world, O Christian soul."
Following royal tradition, which dates back as far as the 1600s, the queen's coffin was lined with lead, which ensures that her remains stay intact for up to a year. This is because the lead makes the coffin airtight, stopping moisture from getting in and therefore slowing down the decomposition of the body.
A man who appeared to grab the flag draped over the Queen's coffin did so because he did not believe she was dead and wanted to check for himself, a court has heard.
Mourners warned queues to see Queen's coffin could last 30 hours | Queen Elizabeth II | The Guardian.
So that symbolized the extraordinariness of the occasion. Everyone is doing something different." The roughly 40-minute walk brought together the most senior members of the royal family, including Britain's new monarch and the queen's son, King Charles III, and his three siblings.
Royal Navy sailors have the honour of pulling the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage bearing the Queen's coffin for two miles through the streets of London – a duty they have performed since the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.
OPEN-CASKET FUNERAL ETIQUETTE
If they have an open casket viewing, make sure you follow proper funeral etiquette: DON'T touch the body under any circumstances. Sometimes the casket has a glass to prevent this from happening.
Researchers studying the process of decomposition in a body after death from natural causes found that, without any external “assistance,” human remains can change their position. This discovery has important implications for forensic science.
The number depends on the handles on the casket as well as those who wish to carry the casket. As such, this number and even are more than eight people. However, six pallbearers are picked to carry the casket during a funeral service often because most caskets have three handles on each side.
It depends on how big your coffin is. A normal, healthy person might have 10 minutes to an hour, or six hours to 36 hours–depending on whom you ask–before settling into a premature grave.
Capacity of the grave
Graves can be for a maximum of three full earth burials, depending on ground conditions in the cemetery. The depth has to be determined with the first burial. In a dedicated cremation plot, designed solely for cremated remains, ten caskets can be interred.
It is important to remember that, when carrying a coffin or casket, the person inside is always carried feet first – the only exception is a vicar, who is carried head first to face their congregation. Coffins are carried feet first simply because of health and safety, rather than any kind of ceremonial tradition.
Members of the Royal Family are customarily buried in lead-lined coffins to help preserve the body for a longer period of time. The lead fully seals the coffin, creating an airtight barrier between its contents and the outside world and preventing moisture from entering.
Queen Elizabeth was buried among her family at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle, specifically in the 200-year-old Royal Vault underneath the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
Coffins must not have any metal in them, except high ferrous metal such as iron and only when it is needed for them to be made safely. Zinc or lead lined coffins cannot be cremated.