Queen’s funeral costs taxpayers £162m amid cost-of-living crisis

The UK government has disclosed that the state funeral and related events for Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last September, cost taxpayers almost £162 million (US$201 million). This is the first public estimate of the expenses associated with the funeral of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

The state funeral, held on September 19, required an extensive security operation to accommodate hundreds of foreign heads of state and royals. Additionally, the large number of people who queued for days to view the Queen’s coffin in London and Edinburgh necessitated costly security and logistical arrangements.

Finance Minister John Glen revealed in a written statement to parliament that the total estimated cost amounted to £161.7 million. The interior ministry, responsible for policing, accounted for the largest portion, at £73.7 million. The…