By JULIUS MBALUTO
Buckingham Palace has announced that Queen Elizabeth 11 will be buried on 19th September in a state funeral. The Queen died aged 76 and ruled for 70 years. It's easy to confuse the types of burial ceremonies conducted for members of Royal families in the UK. For example, the Queen will have a state funeral, but her husband Prince Philip had a royal ceremonial burial.
State funeral is only reserved for the sovereign. In essence, a state funeral honours the life of the Queen or King. The body is carried on a gun carriage drawn by sailors from Royal Navy in a military procession from a private resting chapel to Westminster Halll inside House of Parliament. Another procession follows to Westminster Abbey or St. Pauls Cathedral depending on where the service is. Heads of state are then given 21 -gun salute.
Earl Mashal delivers state funeral with the support of the College of Arms reserved only the Head of state, however other people can be given state funeral with Monarch's approval and a vote in parliament. This must be very distinguished personalities. People who had state funeral in the UK include, former Prime Ministers, Lord Palmerston, Sir Winston Churchill, William Gladstone who died in 1865, 1898 and 1965. Duke of Wellington 1852, Lord Nelson 1806 following the battle of Trafalgar.
Monarchs who had state funerals are Queen Victoria, King Edward V11 (1936) and King George V1(1952). Others have had royal ceremonial burials and Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official of the royal family is responsible for their organization. Members of royal family are buried in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, and they include Queen Victoria, King George V1, Queen Elizabeth 1, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother.
