How much does a lead-lined casket weigh

Q: Was the queens coffin lead

Royal coffins, like Queen Elizabeths, are lined with lead.

Queen Elizabeth II is being laid to rest in a state funeral on Monday 19 September.

Table of Contents Show

How much would the Queen’s coffin weigh?
Was the queen's coffin lead
What happens to a body in a lead
What was the weight of Queen Elizabeth's coffin?
Why do royals use lead

Her coffin was moved several times ahead of the date, firstly when a funeral cortege took the late monarch’s body from Balmoral to Edinburgh in a solemn procession last Sunday.

The coffin rested at St Giles’ Cathederal in the Scottish capital overnight, before being flown down to London to Buckingham Palace.

After lying in state for five days at Westminster Hall, Elizabeth II will make her final journeys on Monday, firstly to Westminster Abbey and then to Windsor Castle – here’s everything you need to know about her coffin.

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Final farewell as her coffin is returned home to her beloved Windsor for committal service
Crowds lining London streets say Queen’s funeral was more moving than they could have imagined
At 6.32am, Black Rod closed the doors on the Queen’s Lying in State. Then overwhelming silence
Liz Truss makes first appearance as Prime Minister on global stage with reading at the Queen’s funeral

The Queen’s coffin is made from English oak and lined with lead, which is a traditional design choice for members of the Royal Family, according to reports.

Using lead prevents air and moisture from building up, aiding preservation. Experts say airtight coffins are particularly important when they are laid to rest above ground.

The design of the Queen’s coffin appears to have been confirmed by Andrew Leverton, of Leverton & Sons, the firm that acts as undertakers to the Royal Family. Four years ago, Mr Leverton told The Times the coffin is made of English oak and lined with lead.

It is thought the Queen’s coffin was constructed around 30 years ago alongside the Duke of Edinburgh’s.

The Queen’s coffin has been moved several times since her death (Photo: AFP)

“My understanding is that the Queen and all members of the Royal Family have coffins made while alive… so there is no delay, the coffin is there,” Matthew Lymn Rose, managing director of A W Lymn, The Family Funeral Service, told i.

The concept of lead lining can be traced back to the Victorian era, when it was necessary to protect bodies in an airtight sealed coffin for the benefit of the deceased and the public when they are laid to rest above ground.

Mr Lymn Rose said: “Most people are buried under ground. If you have a coffin vault or a family chamber in a church, then that coffin remains above ground and open to the elements. A sealed coffin is very important.”

Sarah Hayes, manager for the Coffin Works museum in Birmingham, said lead-lined coffins were not only reserved for the Royal Family.

“Winston Churchill also had a lead-lined coffin, so it’s not only the Royal Family, but it does tend to be associated with a person’s social standing or status and the funeral director they choose.

“JH Kenyon, the royal undertakers until 1991 would have specialised in lead-lined coffins for this reason. They did many high-status funerals, including Churchill’s.

“Oak and elm seem to have been the chosen woods when it came to making coffins, but in terms of royal coffins, they are often made from oak on the Sandringham Estate. That’s the distinction here, and oak in general is often chosen because of its distinctive grain pattern, but oak isn’t exclusive to royal coffins.”

How much would the Queen’s coffin weigh?

The use of lead makes the coffin very heavy. According to The Times, eight military bearers will be needed to carry the Queen’s coffin on the day of the state funeral.

It has been reported that the coffin is estimated to weigh anything between 250kg (551lb) and 317kg (699lb).

Mr Lymn Rose said his firm, which is based in Nottinghamshire and has 27 branches, gets requests for airtight sealed coffins from families who intended to lay their loved one to rest above ground or if the coffin needs to be transported.

“Coffins are normally sealed by screwing the lid into the sides but that does not form an airtight seal.

“The modern process would be to zinc-line [the coffin]. Zinc is much thinner than lead, and more malleable.

“I have never, in my 20 years, seen a coffin lead-lined. The process of zinc lining is more simple, less costly, less weighty,” he said, suggesting the Royal Family still opted for the traditional method.

Was the queen's coffin lead

Royal coffins, like Queen Elizabeth's, are lined with lead.

What happens to a body in a lead

The lead helps to preserve the body for up to a year by slowing the decomposition process. The lining makes the coffin airtight, preventing moisture from entering and ensuring that the smell and toxins from the dead body will not escape and harm the environment.

What was the weight of Queen Elizabeth's coffin?

The lead-lined coffin weighed about 550lbs (250kg) and was draped in the Royal Standard.

Why do royals use lead

This is because lead coffins can preserve the body for up to a year – important due to the way Royal Family members are typically buried. Lead lining a coffin seals the coffin, keeping out moisture and preserving the body for longer, slowing the decomposition process.