What will the Queen wear to be buried – and what jewels will she be buried with?
The funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September, after Her Majesty died on Thursday 8 September, aged 96.
The Queen will be reunited with her parents, sister and the late Duke of Edinburgh, her husband of nearly 74 years, in her final resting place at Windsor Castle.
A committal ceremony for the Queen will take place at St George’s Chapel on Monday evening, but what the late monarch will be wearing when she is laid to rest has not yet been shared.
What will the Queen be wearing for her burial?
Even though her funeral was a public affair, and televised, little is known about what the Queen will be buried in.
One expert believes that this may remain the case, even after Her Majesty is put to rest.
“After a lifetime of being ‘seen’, this may be one time when her look remains a mystery,” says Bethan Holt, royal fashion expert and author of The Queen: 70 years of Majestic Style.
Knowing the late monarch's preference for humble and more affordable items of clothing, it’s likely that her burial outfit will reflect that.
Whatever the Queen is buried wearing, “she alone will have decided on the outfit,” and it will have been “chosen for some time,” says Holt.
“She always paid close attention to her clothing so this is a detail which she’ll have ultimate control over,” she continues, adding that Her Majesty may be wearing black or “she may wear an outfit which holds happy memories for her”.
What Crown Jewels and jewellery will the Queen be buried with?
Most pieces of the Crown Jewels are kept to be passed down to King Charles III, but it is likely that Her Majesty will be buried with jewellery from her own collection.
The Queen had over 300 items in her private collection, but one jewellery expert believes that she will be buried with some of her more modest pieces.
Lisa Levinson, Natural Diamond Council head of communications, told the Metro that the Queen could be buried with just two pieces of jewellery: her Welsh gold wedding band and a pair of pearl earrings.
“Pearls have always been a signature of the Queen’s,” confirms Holt, “so it would make sense that she would choose to be buried with some.”
Levinson added that she believes it is likely that the Queen’s engagement ring will be given to Princess Anne.
“The young Prince Philip was closely involved in the design of Elizabeth’s engagement ring, which is set in platinum and has eleven natural diamonds – a three-carat round solitaire diamond, and five smaller stones set on each side,” she explains.
“Her Majesty’s life has always been about the legacy of the Royal Family, in the UK and Commonwealth; her jewels form very much part of that legacy.”
Royal commentator Josh Rom told New York Post that the majority of the Queen’s tiara collection would pass on to King Charles III for Camilla, Queen Consort, to use, and possibly Kate, Princess of Wales.
How is the Queen’s coffin dressed?
Whilst it is not yet confirmed how the Queen will be dressed for her burial, we do know more about the items dressing her coffin.
Although the Queen is likely to be buried with few ceremonial items, they have been on show with her coffin as she lay in state for four days in Westminster Hall from Wednesday until the morning of her funeral on Monday.
The Imperial State Crown has been placed on the Queen’s coffin on top of the Royal Standard flag, along with a white floral wreath which featured white roses, white dahlias and foliage, including pine from the gardens at Balmoral and pittosporum, lavender and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor.
The coffin was draped with the Royal Standard, a flag representing the four kingdoms of the UK which is also the flag used at royal residences to represent when the sovereign is home.
The Imperial State Crown is, whether you realise it or not, one of the Queen’s most-worn crowns, chosen every year for the state opening of parliament, as well as the crown worn by Her Majesty at the end of her coronation.
It’s solid gold frame, with 2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and four rubies, was originally created for the coronation of the Queen’s father, King George VI, and was reshaped for the Queen and its height reduced to “make it appear more feminine”.
The Sovereign’s orb and sceptre, made of hollow gold and with more than 600 precious stones, will also be placed on the coffin for the funeral ceremony.
What will be buried with the Queen?
Traditionally, members of the Royal Family are buried with items close to them, including jewellery and mementos.
Prince Philip was buried with his military effects, notably his naval office cap and his sword which were placed on top of his coffin during the procession to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Queen Victoria passed away at the incredible age of 81 in January, 1901. Famously in mourning since the death of her husband Prince Albert, Victoria was buried in black clothing, with her and her husband’s wedding rings.
Also included in Victoria’s coffin was one of Albert’s dressing gowns and an elaborate cape made by her daughter Princess Alice, who passed away from diphtheria in 1878, for her husband.
Ever the rebel, Princess Margaret broke with tradition and chose to be cremated so that her ashes could be scattered next to her father, King George IV.
Princess Diana was buried in a private ceremony in Althorp Park, the Spencer family estate, in 1997. The late people’s princess was dressed in a black long-sleeved, three-quarter length woollen cocktail dress created by one of her go-to designers, Catherine Walker.
A gifted set of rosary beads from Mother Teresa, who died the same week as Diana, was placed in her hands, as well as a photograph of her sons, a photo which travelled around with her and had been found in her handbag, according to Andrew Morton’s biography, Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words.
