May 18, (THEWILL) – The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and its related events cost the UK Government an estimated £161.7 million.
The figures was published by the Treasury as part of a written statement to the UK Parliament and cover the period from her death on September 8, 2022, to her funeral in London on September 19.
In a written ministerial statement to Parliament, the chief secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said the cost was used to facilitate the smooth running of the event and ensure mourners from the UK and across the world could visit and take part safely.
According to the figures published on Thursday, the Home Office alone spent £74m on the events, while the Department of Culture, Media and Sport spent £57m.
The Scottish Government spent £18.8m on events.
Other costs include the Ministry of Defence at £2.9m; Department for Transport at £2.6m; the Welsh Government at £2.2m; the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office at £2.1m; and the Northern Ireland Office at £2.1m.
Glen said all devolved governments were “fully” refunded for the cost.
He said the UK Government’s priority at the time was to ensure “these events ran smoothly and with the appropriate level of dignity, while at all times ensuring the safety and security of the public”.
Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral was held on September 19 last year and followed a period of national mourning.
She died at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire on September 8 before being laid to rest in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh for 24 hours.
After that, she was transported to Westminster Abbey in London where she was visited by hundreds of thousands of people.
Her funeral was attended by leaders from across the world, including US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and then New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
