At the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth II passed away after ruling for 7 decades, redefining the modern monarchy in a way that will be talked about for generations to come. Her passing came 20 years after the Queen Mother passed in 2002. Queen Elizabeth II was known for her determination and her strong sense of duty to the people under her rule. A quote from her obituary states, “She became for many the one constant point in a rapidly changing world as British influence declined, society changed beyond recognition and the role of the monarchy itself came into question.”
She is a woman mourned all across the globe. What can her remarkable funeral teach us about funeral planning and preneed services? Let’s take a look at some details.
Guests Appreciate a Schedule
Obviously, with Her Majesty’s funeral services, there was an entire staff of professionals put to work to plan the week of memorials and vigils after her death. You may not be dealing with anything quite on that scale, but anyone who has planned a funeral knows that there can be a lot to juggle and several different services to arrange. Utilize the professionals—they will help you make choices that make sense in the bigger picture. The Queen’s state funeral services took place on Monday, 19 September, 2022, after a 4-day-long vigil in Westminster Hall that was open to the public (23 hours a day!).
With so many events, it was important for the public and family to know who was invited to which event and when everything would be taking place. For Her Majesty’s funeral, a comprehensive schedule was published ahead of time. Additionally, personal invitations were sent to specific people to invite them to the closed events. If you’re having a viewing that’s only for family, a memorial service that’s open to the public, and then you want a smaller group to attend the interment, consider making individualized invitations so that it’s clear who is invited to which event.
Personalization is Key
Queen Elizabeth II was known for her personality and taste in dress, hobbies, even dogs. The Royal Family did an excellent job carrying that personality through in her funeral. Her Majesty’s wreath, laid upon her coffin, was personally chosen by her son, King Charles III. The flowers came from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, and Highgrove House, all places special to the Queen. Tribute was paid to Her Majesty in the choices of jewelry made by the guests as well. Kate Middleton wore a pearl necklace and earrings commissioned by the Queen as a gift, as did Meghan Markle. And, of course, the Queen’s beloved animals were incorporated into the services: her fell pony Emma was in the front row of the procession by Windsor Castle. These and other personal touches individualized the traditional elements of the funeral, and we can learn a great deal from the details considered by everyone involved.
Pre-plan Your Own Funeral
Some of the success of these funeral services can be attributed to the Queen herself, for she did much of the planning ahead of time! “The plans have been in place for years – the Queen herself played an active role in the structure and organization of the day,” reads a quote from the BBC.
Getting with a preneed insurance agent is one thing we can take from Her Majesty’s example: even after her death, Queen Elizabeth II was leading the way, taking control, and easing the burden on her loved ones by making preneed arrangements and clear requests that helped guide those left behind.
