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According to the Treasury, the British government spent £162 million ($204 million) on Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and related celebrations. Following the monarch’s death on September 8, there was a ten-day period of national mourning, culminating with the official burial on September 19.
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Her death was a “moment of huge national significance,” said Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen, adding that the government had to ensure the surrounding events “ran smoothly and with the appropriate level of dignity, while at all times ensuring the safety and security of the public.”
A breakdown of costs provided by the Treasury showed that the Home Office paid the largest amount at £74 million, followed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which covered £57.4 million.
The Scottish government paid £18.8 million, while the Welsh government and Northern Ireland Office paid about £2 million each.
According to the Treasury, the Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland Office were fully refunded for their respective costs.
An estimated 250,000 members of the public saw the late British monarch lying in state in London during the mourning period, with many queuing for hours to pay their respects.
The queen was buried at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council described the event as the largest ever operation for the Metropolitan Police, ahead of the opening and closing ceremonies for the London Olympics in 2012.
The queen’s successor and son, King Charles III, was crowned on May 6 during a three-day weekend of coronation celebrations, which are projected to have cost between £50 million and £100 million
