The Final Farewell: The FUNERAL of King Edward VII


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The grand funeral of Edward VII was a momentous event. Edward VII, who ascended to the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria, in 1901, ruled for just over nine months. When he assumed the throne, he was in his sixties and had held the title of Prince of Wales for a significant period. While he enjoyed public approval, his reputation as a playboy prince with a penchant for women strained his relationship with his mother.
On May 6, 1910, King Edward VII passed away, marking the end of an era. His funeral became the largest gathering of European royalty in history and the final reunion of many royal families before the outbreak of World War I.
But what is the story behind King Edward VII's funeral?
King Edward VII had a lifelong habit of consuming 20 cigarettes and 12 cigars daily. He had battled various health issues, including appendicitis in 1907, which was treated with radium. Toward the end of his life, bronchitis plagued him. During a state visit to Berlin in February 1909, he lost consciousness, and in March 1910, while in Biarritz, he collapsed again. He stayed in Biarritz to recover, and his deteriorating health went largely unreported. He eventually returned to Buckingham Palace still suffering from bronchitis.
On May 6, 1910, King Edward VII experienced a series of heart attacks. Despite his illness, he refused to retire to his bed, declaring his determination to continue working. However, he was clearly very ill and had intermittent moments of consciousness. His son, the future King George V, informed him of his horse's victory in a race that afternoon. The king replied, "Yes, I have heard of it. I'm very glad." These were his final words. At 11:30 PM, he lost consciousness and passed away 15 minutes later.
After his death, Queen Alexandra, his wife, insisted that Edward's body remain in place for eight days. On May 11, small groups of family members were granted the opportunity to view his body. The deceased king was dressed in his uniform and placed in a substantial oak coffin.
Subsequently, the coffin was moved to the throne room of Buckingham Palace, where it was sealed before being put on display for public viewing in Westminster Hall on May 17. This allowed the public to pay their respects to the late king.




This marked the first time a member of the royal family lay in state in the hall. A brief service occurred upon the arrival of the coffin, with choirs singing hymns and military bands in attendance.
On the initial day of the lying-in-state, thousands of individuals braved the rain, and by 10 PM, when the gates closed, 25,000 people had been turned away.
On May 19, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany expressed a desire for the hall to be closed while he laid a wreath. However, he was advised against it, as it might incite a riot. Instead, the emperor was discreetly ushered in through a separate entrance while the public filed past. It is estimated that approximately half a million people visited the hall during its three-day opening.
The state funeral occurred on May 20, two weeks after Edward's passing. Enormous crowds, numbering between three to five million people, gathered to witness the procession, with 35,000 soldiers providing security along the route. The funeral procession proceeded from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where a small ceremony occurred.
A select group of mourners, including King George V, the king's Queen, his daughter, brother, and nephew, attended the rest of the funeral service, while a multitude waited outside the hall to pay their respects. Big Ben tolled 68 times, signifying each year of Edward's life. This marked the first time the bell was employed in a monarch's funeral.
The procession then moved from Westminster Hall through Whitehall and the Mall, from Hyde Park Corner to Marble Arch, and finally to Paddington Station. Representatives from 70 different states participated, and the funeral procession was followed by 11 carriages. The king's dogs led the way, and from Paddington Station, the king's coffin was transported to Windsor.
The Royal train was employed for this purpose, and from the station, the journey continued to Windsor Castle, where a comprehensive funeral ceremony unfolded in Saint George's Chapel.


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