Pallbearers are usually chosen by the closest relatives of the person who has died, and may be family members, close friends or co-workers. Although pallbearers have traditionally always been men, women are now also given the role.
Traditionally, there are four to six pallbearers at a funeral, depending on the weight of the coffin. If the coffin is to be carried on the shoulders, a pallbearer's height will need to be accounted for; choosing people of a similar height is preferable and will make the coffin easier to carry.
Pallbearers will have to carry the casket with the body inside, so they will have to transport the body's weight and the coffin. 370 to 400 pounds is the final weight that pallbearers will carry if the casket is standard sized, 200 pounds heavy, whereas the adult body is 200 pounds (male) or 170 pounds (female).
The pallbearers hail from the Queen's Company, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. 'It's their role to protect her body, both in life and in death, remaining in the Queen's Company until King Charles decides otherwise,' explained Major Adrian Weale to the PA.
A Pallbearer is traditionally one of the people who will help to carry someone's coffin from the hearse to the funeral venue. In addition, if the deceased is being buried they will continue carrying the coffin to the grave. As a rule, four or six Pallbearers carry or escort a coffin at the funeral.
Typically, legs are covered in a casket because of swelling in the feet that makes fitting shoes difficult. When swelling is not present, the legs may still be covered at a funeral due to cultural preferences, the type of casket used, the size and condition of the body, and aesthetic considerations.
Whether it is a father, mother, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, cousin, husband, wife, or best friend, it is crucial that a pallbearer is emotionally, mentally and physically capable of carrying out the task. If any person is unfit mentally, emotionally or physically, they can serve as an honorary pallbearer.
Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in an English oak coffin featuring brass handles that were designed more than 30 years ago, and lined with lead. It is estimated the coffin weighs between 250kg and 317kg.
King Charles III is inheriting more than just Queen Elizabeth II's crown. Following the death of Her Majesty on Sept. 8, the King is now in charge of the Crown Jewels, which have been handed down from British monarchs since the 17th century.
As material in coffins, “lead helps keep out moisture and preserve the body for longer and prevent smells and toxins from a dead body escaping,” said Julie Anne Taddeo, a research professor of history at the University of Maryland.
Opinions differ on whether family members should be asked to be pallbearers. Some people consider it a no-no, while others are fine with including family members. It's possible that immediate family members of the deceased, like siblings or children, may be grieving too deeply to be tasked with this job.
In many funerals, the pallbearers are seated together in a special section of the funeral setting as a group. When most or all of the pallbearers are family members, they may choose to be seated with their family.
Participating in a funeral as a pallbearer is a time-honored tradition and a sign of trust. It's both an honor and a responsibility. After all, you have been asked to accompany a dearly loved person to their final resting place, which means the family trusts and values you.
Who Should Serve as Pallbearers? Traditionally, men are seen as pallbearers. But, to answer the question in the title, yes, women do the job as well. This actually depends on the discretion of the family members, or in some instances, based on who will volunteer for the duty.
Pallbearers need to dress appropriately. Unless the bereaved specify otherwise, men should wear dark, solid suits with white shirts and conservative ties, and women should wear dark pantsuits or dresses.
Anyone you choose can serve as a pallbearer at your funeral. As pallbearers are the individuals who escort the casket, if there is no casket, or a cremation was planned rather than a burial, there is, in this case, no need for pallbearers and would only be appropriate if there will be a casket present for the service.
The duchess selected a symbolic piece of jewelry from her late mother-in-law's jewelry collection to wear during her and Harry's televised, no-holds-barred interview with Oprah in 2021. It was a diamond bracelet and, reportedly, the same one from which the couple selected stones to create Meghan's engagement ring.
While Kate will inherit $110 million in jewelry from the Queen, that collection will not include the Spencer tiara, a diamond-encrusted crown inherited by William's late mother, Princess Diana, in the mid-1970s.
Clothing that was of less historical significance is likely set to be given to family members — and her granddaughters and great-granddaughters could be in for a windfall. “Items from the Queen's personal collection would have been passed to her family members with each chosen personally by Her Majesty.
Princess Margaret is the only senior royal member to have ever been cremated. She died in 2002 and did not have a traditional procession for her coffin to her final resting place, reports MyLondon. Instead, she was cremated in Berkshire - the Slough Crematorium.
Money with the face of Queen Elizabeth II will gradually be removed from circulation following her death. New coins and notes will need to be designed, minted and printed, so they are not likely to appear for some time. Coins featuring the new King will show him facing to the left.
Usually the head end of the coffin is the heaviest, thus the strongest two of your six pallbearers should take the handles at this end.
Due to this heaviness, pallbearers are typically males over the age of 16. However, women can also serve as pallbearers. Those chosen are often close to the departed or the bereaved family.
It is not common to see women carrying the casket, but that is not to say that there is anything wrong with women taking up this honourable duty in a funeral service.
They can be men and women usually over the age of 16. When asked to be a pallbearer, it's an honor and very few people decline this request. Pallbearers play a crucial role in the funeral service, as they're in the public eye.