Why the Queen's funeral will be the first of its kind in almost 60 years - and how much it's estimated to cost
As the cogs of royal tradition carry the Queen to her final resting place, preparations are underway for Britain's first state funeral in more than five decades.
Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully last Thursday at her Scottish estate, Balmoral Castle. She was 96.
Britain's longest-reigning monarch, after ruling for more than 70 years, will be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on Monday September 19.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew and Prince Harry banned from wearing military uniform at Queen Elizabeth's funeral
Preparations are underway for Britain's first state funeral in more than five decades. The Royal Family/Instagram
Her funeral will be the first state funeral in Britain since Sir Winston Churchill, the late former United Kingdom prime minister, back in January 1965.
So what is the Queen's funeral likely to cost?
While it is too early to put an exact dollar figure on the late monarch's final send-off, estimates are already putting the costs in the billions.
When Churchill was laid to rest 57 years ago, part of the funeral bill was reportedly £55,000. That's more than $1.8 million in today's money.
READ MORE: Queen's children unite in public for first time since her death during procession through Edinburgh
The Queen's state funeral will be the first in Britain since that of Sir Winston Churchill, pictured with the monarch. Getty
As a comparison, in 2002 The Queen Mother's funeral reportedly cost around £5.4 million, or almost $16 million in today's money.
The late Princess Diana's funeral in 1997 cost between £3 million and £5 million, which is the equivalent of between $10 million and $17 million.
It should be noted that neither the Queen Mother or Diana had state funerals.
The Evening Standard has estimated the cost of the Queen's funeral could end up costing the UK economy billions of dollars.
READ MORE: Princess Anne's gut-wrenching final trip with mother Queen Elizabeth II
Members of the royal family pictured at the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
The suggestion of such large multiples is due to expenses outside the funeral costs, such as security costs, cost to local business with public holidays and the cost of King Charles's coronation.
When Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953 her coronation reportedly cost £1.5 million That's more than a whopping $47 million in today's money.
The Queen's funeral is expected to bring about "the biggest policing operation" in the UK's history, with enormous crowds set to converge outside the service.
To offer a comparison, an estimated one million people gathered on the streets of London for Diana's funeral.
READ MORE: Prince Harry farewells 'Granny' in heartfelt statement
The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, completes its journey from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will lie in rest for a day, in Edinburgh, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday Sept. 8, 2022, after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP) AP
There are also expected to be about 2000 dignitaries and notables in attendance.
Royal tradition has dictated funerals for British monarchs be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
However, the Queen said she wanted to break from tradition to have her funeral held in Westminster Abbey.
Most viewed in Royals
Police probe Jeffrey Epstein’s time spent at Balmoral with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
King Charles III popularity plummets to lowest levels since ascension
Harry and Meghan taking break from public life so they don’t ‘overshadow the royal family’
Met Police refers itself to watchdog over handling of Thomas Markle allegations
