Death and funeral of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor
The funeral of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, took place on 5 June 1972. Edward had been King of the United Kingdom from 20 January to 11 December 1936, reigning as Edward VIII before his abdication, and had lived in Paris at the time of his death. His funeral took place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after lying in state for three days and he was buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore. His widow, Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, was buried alongside him in 1986. Background Edward died on 28 May 1972 in Paris. A heavy smoker, he had suffered from throat cancer. He had reigned as King of the United Kingdom between 20 January and 11 December 1936 and had abdicated due to his wish to marry Wallis Simpson. His brother, Prince Albert, Duke of York, had succeeded him as king under the regnal name George VI. George VI died in 1952 and his eldest daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, succeeded him. Elizabeth II had visited Edward in Paris on 18 May 1972, ten days before his death. Edward's body was flown to Britain, landing at RAF Benson, and lay in the Albert Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle on 2 June before being carried by soldiers of the Welsh Guards into St George's Chapel the following day where he lay in state for three days. The coffin was displayed on a catafalque with blue carpeting in the centre of the nave. A large candleholder stood at each corner, with each end marked by a cross. Edward's coffin was draped with his royal standard and surmounted with a cross formed of white Easter lilies given by Wallis. His widow, Wallis, stayed at Buckingham Palace during her visit. Wallis was suffering from mental confusion due to arteriosclerosis and was nervous about meeting Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother who had a long held antipathy toward her due to the strain that Edward's abdication had had on her husband, George VI. Wallis was reassured by Lord Mountbatten that "Your sister-in-law will receive you with open arms. She is deeply sorry for you in your present grief and remembers what it was like when her husband died". Elizabeth met Wallis only once during her stay, on the day of the funeral. Queue barriers in anticipation of mourners to the laying in state stretched for half a mile down the length of Castle Hill. A car park for 2,000 cars was established in the Home Park. Thousands of mourners filed past his coffin. Funeral and burial The funeral service commenced at 11:15 am and lasted for 30 minutes. The bell in the tower tolled for an hour prior to the service. The service was conducted by the Dean of Windsor, Launcelot Fleming, and the blessing was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey. The Archbishop of York, Donald Coggan and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Ronnie Selby Wright, were also present. The lesson was from chapters