The Queen’s coffin is lined with a special silk fabric, which has been kept secret for over 500 years.
It was only in 2015 that the public was allowed to see the inside of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. The special lining of the coffin was revealed when Prince Philip died and his body was put into the same coffin as his wife’s. It is a rare glimpse into royal life and shows that even their coffins are not ordinary. So what is this special lining and why do they need it?
It is believed that it was King Henry VIII who first had the idea of having an interior lining for his own coffin. It wasn’t until 1667 that Charles II decided to have an interior lining installed in all future royal coffins. The reason for this decision remains unclear but one possible explanation is that he wanted to protect his wife, Catherine of Braganza, from being buried alive.
However, there are no records of Catherine ever being buried alive so this theory has never been proven. Whatever the reason may be, it seems likely that Charles II’s decision influenced all future monarchs.
What does it look like?
The silk fabric used to line a royal coffin has remained a closely guarded secret over the centuries. In fact, up until 2015 when Prince Philip died, no one outside Buckingham Palace knew what material had been used.
Buckingham Palace said in 2015: “As with all previous monarchs since 1667, when Charles II introduced this tradition, Her Majesty’s body will be laid in an oak casket lined with pitch pine within which will be placed wooden planks before being covered by her robes and finally topped by her crown.”
