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Royal Funerals: A History

  • 04/03/2025
  • 19:00-20:30
  • online talk

British Library

Royal Funerals: A History

A Folklore Society online talk by

Helen Frisby

Tuesday 4 March 2025, 19:00 GMT

This talk with Dr Helen Frisby, author of the Shire book Traditions of Death and Burial, explores the funeral customs of English/British monarchs from Anglo-Saxon times to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

Some of these customs remain virtually unchanged down the centuries, while others have changed along with ideas about royal power and general social mores. Meanwhile many monarchs have added their own personal touches to their funerals, and of course accidents sometimes happen too – so why do only some of these then become ‘traditions’? In answering this question we get to the heart of why funerals matter at all.

Helen has taught history at UWE Bristol, and funeral directing at the University of Bath where she’s also a Visiting Research Fellow. A Council Member and Participation Officer of The Folklore Society, Helen continues to research and publish on topics relating to death, funerals and bereavement, past and present.

Tickets £6.00 (£4.00 for Folklore Society members with the Promo Code: log in to the Members area to get the code) from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royal-funerals-a-history-tickets-1047027626817?

Every ticket sold helps to support the work of The Folklore Society

Image: ‘The funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth I to Westminster Abbey, 28 April 1603;’ From the archive of the British Library, shelfmark 057867