After ten days of mourning and a historic 70 enduring years on the British throne, Queen Elizabeth II has been formally lain to rest after a lifetime of dedicated service to the nation.
On Monday, hundreds of foreign dignitaries and world leaders joined together with millions of viewers watching around the world as a historic state funeral took place for the late monarch at Westminster Abbey.
A second funeral ceremony took place a few hours later at Windsor Castle, with a final private goodbye due to be said by her family later on Monday evening.
Yet as the nation continues to mourn, many members of the public have been left curious about where The Queen will be buried, as it was revealed she will not be joining 25 other Royal Family members in the Royal Vault.
So where is the vault exactly?
The Royal Vault lies beneath St.George’s Chapel, the small church in the grounds of Windsor Castle that was used to conduct a short service on Monday afternoon.
Historically, members of the Royal Family have been lain to rest in the vault for over 600 years, with the practice first becoming the accepted norm in the 15th Century.
Traditionally, following a funeral service, royal coffins are lowered into the vault through the floor of the chapel. A special opening is located in the floor itself for this to take place.
Which royals are buried in the vault?
A number of royals are still buried in the vault, including the following:
- Princess Amelia, daughter of George III (d.1810)
- Princess Augusta, Duchess of Brunswick, sister of George III (d.1813)
- Stillborn son of Princess Charlotte (d. 1817)
- Princess Charlotte (daughter of George IV) (d.1817)
- Queen Charlotte, wife of George III (d.1818)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria (d.1820)
- King George III (d.1820)
- Prince Alfred, son of George III (d.1782, placed in vault 1820)
- Prince Octavius, son of George III (d.1783, placed in vault 1820)
- Princess Elizabeth, daughter of William IV (d.1821)
- Prince Frederick, Duke of York (d.1827)
- King George IV (d.1830)
- Still-born daughter of Prince Ernest Augustus, son of George III (d.1818)
- King William IV (d.1837)
- Princess Sophia, daughter of George III (d.1840)
- Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV (d.1849)
- Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein, son of Princess Christian (d.1876)
- King George V of Hanover (d.1878)
- Victoria von Pawel Rammingen, daughter of Princess Frederica of Hanover (d.1881)
- Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, mother of Queen Mary (d.1897)
- Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, father of Queen Mary (d.1900)
- Princess Frederika of Hanover (d.1926)
- Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, grandfather of Queen Mary (d.1850, placed in vault 1930)
- Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge, grandmother of Queen Mary (d.1889, placed in vault 1930).
Will the Queen be buried there?
The Queen will not be buried in the Royal Vault, although her late husband Prince Philip will be relocated from within it, where his coffin has resided since his funeral last year.
Instead, the Queen’s coffin will be lain to rest in a separate area of the church, the King George VI chapel, where it will be buried alongside her husband, as well as her mother and father, King George VI, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.
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