Billions of people around the globe watched the funeral of Princess Diana in September 1997, making it one of the most-watched events in television history. If you're a royal watcher, you've surely seen the footage: Eight men, very slowly and very carefully carrying Diana's coffin into Westminster Abbey. So why was Princess Diana's coffin so heavy in the first place? Turns out, it's a royal tradition, and it's for a very good reason. Prince Philip, in fact, will also be buried in a similar fashion following his funeral on April 17, 2021. Here's why Princess Diana was buried in a coffin lined with lead.
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00:00From the moment she married Prince Charles in 1981, Princess Diana became the people's princess,
00:06and was beloved all over the world for her grace, style, and philanthropic efforts.
00:11Her popularity with the people could be seen not only when she was alive,
00:14but after news of her tragic passing broke on August 31st, 1997, when mourners congregated
00:20at Kensington and Buckingham Palace to pay tribute with flowers and cards.
00:24Diana passed away after sustaining injuries in a car crash in Paris.
00:28Diana's funeral, like her wedding, was televised around the world. Billions of people watched as
00:33Diana was laid to rest in a funeral procession that lasted for more than three hours. They also
00:38watched the heartbreaking scene of young Prince William and Prince Harry walking behind their
00:43mother's coffin in the procession with their dad, Prince Charles, and grandfather, Prince Philip.
00:48Another heart-wrenching moment that viewers remember is the sight of Diana's coffin,
00:52adorned with flowers and the royal standard flag draped over it.
00:56According to Express UK, eight Welsh guards carried Diana's coffin,
01:01but they had trouble doing it because of how heavy it was.
01:03Since it was lined with lead, it reportedly weighed a quarter-metric ton.
01:08"...to be carried now so gently and with infinite care."
01:13Metro notes that it is tradition for British royals to be buried in lead-lined coffins
01:18because of its preservation abilities. Lead coffins are sealed airtight and can
01:22slow the body's decomposition while keeping out moisture and preserving the body for a longer
01:27period of time. Although Diana was no longer married to Prince Charles at the time of her
01:31death — she only had the title of Lady Diana Spencer — she was buried as a British royal
01:36because of how loved she was by the public. This was confirmed by a Buckingham Palace
01:40spokesperson who told BBC that the funeral contained particular elements that reflected,
01:45quote, "...the affection with which the princess was held."
01:48According to the Daily Mail, the Duke of Edinburgh will be laid to rest in a traditional
01:52English oak coffin that was commissioned many years ago along with the queens.
01:56It's also reported that his coffin, just like Diana's, will be lined in lead as well,
02:01in an effort to combat moisture and prevent the body from decomposing as quickly.
02:05The story goes that Prince Philip will be temporarily laid to rest in the royal vault
02:09until the time of the queens' passing, when they will both be transported to Frogmore Gardens
02:14together. During an interview with The Times, the funeral director to the royal family,
02:18Andrew Leverton, explained that Philip's coffin wasn't simply something that could be ordered in
02:22a moment's notice. He said,
02:24"...it is not something you can just make in a day or a few hours. It was felt that it was
02:28important to have it available."
02:30Leverton added that the English oak wood alone is now very difficult to get hold of.
02:35While Princess Diana and Prince Philip's coffins might be similar,
02:38the way in which Philip will be sent off will have one very big difference — no large crowds.
02:43According to the Daily Mail, the public has been forewarned to stay away from Windsor
02:47during the duke's funeral due to concerns of COVID-19. John Storey, the mayor of Windsor,
02:52told the PA news agency that it was a great honor for the duke to be transported to the district,
02:57but cautioned,
02:58"...it is a really serious message that everyone stays away. There will be nothing to see."
03:02Storey also explained that Windsor already has a plan set in place for anyone planning
03:07to defy the orders. He said,
03:08"...the officers on the day will take whatever operational decisions which are required."
03:13The mayor did, however, acknowledge the public's interest in offering their support
03:17and condolences while also reminding everyone about the importance of the public's health.
03:21He added,
03:22"...it is a very difficult time for people, and people have very strong feelings,
03:25but we have to ask everyone to put theirs and the health and safety of others at the
03:30top of their list of priorities and not come into Windsor."
03:33The whole of the funeral, including the ceremonial procession,
03:36is taking place inside the castle walls.
03:43you