Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral costs reached to RM911 million
LONDON: The United Kingdom (UK) government spent nearly 162 million pounds Sterling (RM911 million) for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in addition to other events during the 10-day mourning period, said the country’s Ministry of Finance.
The state funeral on 19 September 2022 took place 11 days after her death.
During the period of national mourning, hundreds of thousands of people visit Westminster Abbey, where her body lies.
According to a BBC News portal report , of the total, two ministries, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports bear high costs.
The costs borne by the two ministries are 74 million 162 million pounds Sterling (RM416 million) and 57 million 162 million pounds Sterling (RM320.8 million) respectively.
All the costs incurred by government departments related to the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II as well as other previous events including the length of time her body was placed in St Giles Cathedral Edinburg to allow the public to pay their last respects.
According to the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, John Glen, the government’s priority at the time was to ensure that “the events in question run smoothly and respectfully, in addition to ensuring that the level of public safety” is maintained at all times.
In a written ministerial statement presented to Parliament, Glen said, the UK Treasury also provides additional funding when needed in addition to having explained “in full” the expenses that have been released in advance by the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The estimated cost of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral through government ministries and departments is as follows:
* Department of Culture, Media and Sport – 57.42 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Department of Transport – 2.565 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Department of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development – 2.096 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Ministry of Home Affairs – 73.68 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Ministry of Defense – 2.890 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Northern Ireland Office – 2.134 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Scottish Government – 18.756 million 162 million pounds Sterling * Welsh Government – 2.202 million 162 million pounds Sterling
Total: 161.743 million pounds Sterling
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, the UK government announced a 10-day period of national mourning.
His Majesty died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
The body of the late Queen Elizabeth II lay in state at St Giles Cathedral Edinburgh for 24 hours, before being taken to Westminster Abbey in London where thousands of people lined up for hours to pay their respects.
People line up in London at all hours of the day, including in the cold, to pay their respects – England footballer David Beckham is no exception.
The scale of the national funeral and period of mourning was described by police as “possibly the largest operation ever undertaken in the UK” at the time.
Leaders from around the world and foreign royals joined the English royal family for a state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
The royal funeral was watched by millions of people around the world.
It is the first state funeral since that of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and is the largest tribute event since the Second World War.
