There was no camera inside Queen Elizabeth II's coffin; the popular idea stems from confusion with camouflaged broadcast equipment used around the funeral, and the lead lining of royal coffins (like hers) is to seal them, not hold cameras, though it does make them heavy. Live feeds broadcast during her lying-in-state came from cameras positioned outside the coffin, capturing the solemn ceremony, not from within.
As Royal Family members are buried inside a chamber, rather than directly in the ground, their coffins are lined with lead in order to slow decomposition. The lead seals the coffin and prevents moisture from getting in, preserving the body for up to a year.
Though heavier than a traditional casket, they're not entirely made of lead. Witnessing the Welsh Guards' struggle with one during a funeral highlights the added weight. This sealing is crucial for possible future exhumations or when embalming isn't possible, as it prevents the odors associated with decomposition.
Household Cavalry trooper Jack Burnell-Williams, 18, played a key role in the royal send-off as one of the men who protected her coffin. Jack, who was part of the Blues and Royals regiment, was tragically found dead at Hyde Park Barracks in London's Knightsbridge.
Freddie Mercury's last words are reported differently depending on who is sharing, with his partner Jim Hutton recalling his final utterance as a request to go to the toilet ("Pee, pee!") while being helped, and friend Peter Freestone stating his last words to him were a simple, poignant "Thank you," possibly for his care or for their years together. Other final messages include his public farewell "I still love you" in the video for "These Are The Days Of Our Lives," and his wish for unfinished music to be released, notes the Facebook post with his companion Mary Austin.
In addition to gender, there are no specific requirements for who can serve as a pallbearer. The only requirement is that the individual must be physically able to carry the weight of the casket, which can weigh up to 400 pounds in total and 66 pounds per person (six handles).
Marie-Thérèse Was the Queen of France—For Just 20 Minutes. Marie Antoinette's firstborn survived the French Revolution and, decades later, briefly became queen. The fates of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution are widely known.
The Queen's cipher was discreetly embroidered into each garment. The numbering system (in this case '35') was to help the household staff to identify and sort the linen after laundering, and possibly because such garments were ordered in quantities and then worn in rotation.
Her former prime minister Boris Johnson and the biographer Gyles Brandreth claim that she was suffering from a form of bone marrow cancer, which Brandreth wrote was multiple myeloma. Her death was publicly announced at 18:30. Elizabeth II was the first monarch to die in Scotland since James V in 1542.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) did not attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, reportedly because her strong resemblance to Diana would have been too upsetting for the grieving crowds, a decision made thoughtfully by Sophie herself. At the time, she was dating Prince Edward, but they were not yet engaged or married.
For anyone keeping track, here are the known secret codes for the rest of the royal family: King George VI's death was coded "Hyde Park Corner." Prince Philip's is "Operation Forth Bridge" (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Edinburgh) and the Queen Mother's was "Operation Tay Bridge" (located in Dundee, Scotland).
Prince Harry whispered to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, that he hoped she was happy and with his grandfather, Prince Philip, and expressed his admiration for her dedication to duty until the end, as revealed in his memoir Spare. He said he hoped she'd be happy and with Grandfather now, acknowledging her service through the Jubilee and her final duties.
The cremation process doesn't destroy all parts of the body. It only consumes all the soft tissues, leaving behind bones and parts of the teeth. These bones are processed into a fine powder, making up cremated remains.
William the Conqueror's Exploding Corpse. More farce Than funeral: William The Conqueror's exploding corpse…
The stages of death include: Pallor mortis: The main change that occurs is increased paleness because of the suspension of blood circulation. This is the first sign and occurs quickly, within 15-30 minutes of death.
It's more of a modern reinterpretation that gained traction through social media. But historically, the bow started as a functional detail- women used to tie their underwear at the front before elastic existed, and the bow marked the front. Over time it became more of a decorative element, which is how we use it today.
Queen Victoria's last words were faint, but believed to be either "Bertie" (her son, the future King Edward VII) or "Albert" (referencing her beloved deceased husband, Prince Albert), said as she passed peacefully at Osborne House in 1901, surrounded by family, with her eyes open and a look of calm.
Into her teens, Victoria demonstrated a 22-inch waist – equivalent now to a size 6. Images of Young Victoria are rarely circulated, often overshadowed by the dominant, fuller figured woman.
Nope. France isn't a monarchy. It's a Republic, so there's no current royal family recognized by the French state. Still, there are thousands of French citizens who have titles, and many who can trace their lineage back to the French Royal Family and nobility.
It was recorded that the Queen bathed daily in her linen dressing gown buttoned up to the neck – who can blame her with all those prying eyes.
Marie Antoinette was executed by beheading by guillotine at 12:15pm on 16 October 1793 during the French Revolution. Her last words are recorded as, "Pardonnez-moi, monsieur. Je ne l'ai pas fait exprès" or "Pardon me, sir, I did not do it on purpose", after accidentally stepping on her executioner's shoe.
While you could be used to saying “goodbye” to people upon your departure, avoid doing so at the funeral service as this is believed to be an invitation for the spirit of the deceased to visit you at home.
Before cremation, funeral staff remove dangerous or potentially explosive medical devices (like pacemakers), jewelry, and other personal items, placing them aside for family return or disposal; however, most internal medical implants (like hip/knee replacements, dental work, breast implants, rods, pins) are left in place as they are non-combustible and separated from bone fragments later, though family can often request removal or recycling. Organs are only removed if the person was a registered organ donor.
Funeral directors often won't tell you about more affordable options, like renting urns/caskets or buying them online, the non-necessity of embalming, or that many services are optional, often focusing instead on upselling expensive packages; you can request itemized price lists, use alternative containers for cremation, and veterans get free burial, so it pays to ask questions and shop around. They also might not mention that "sealed" caskets don't stop decomposition or that funeral insurance can be risky, while also using suggestive language to encourage spending.