In the United Kingdom, state funerals are usually reserved for monarchs. The most recent was the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022.
Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, 2022. The coffin is borne on the Royal Navy State Funeral Gun Carriage, drawn by sailors of the Royal Navy. The coffin, draped with the Royal Standard, has the crown, orb and sceptre. Alongside the late Queen's equerries march the Gentlemen at Arms with axes reversed.
The gun-carriage procession approaching Windsor Castle during the state funeral of Edward VII
Naval ratings drawing the gun carriage to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II; alongside them march the bearer party of Grenadier Guardsmen.
Funeral of Elizabeth I, 1603. Horse-drawn bier escorted, as in modern times, by Gentlemen-pensioners carrying their axes 'reversed'. The coffin has an effigy of the late Queen on top of it, and is flanked by knights holding banners and a canopy.
Vigil of the Princes
Videos
The Vigil of the Princes refers to occasions when members of the British royal family have "stood guard" during the lying in state of one of their relatives during or as part of a British state or ceremonial funeral. This occurred for King George V in 1936, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 2002, and for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. During the first two of these occasions, only male members of the British royal family joined the vigil. In 2022 however, Anne, Princess Royal, took part alongside her three brothers in vigils for their mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Duke of York, standing guard during the Vigil of the Princes, 16 September 2022