Why lead lined coffins

The materials used for burying the dead tended to vary as the years went by, and while people without financial means didn't get much more than a shroud at their burial, others with more money had better options, including hollowed-out trees and stone. During the Middle Ages, Europeans began using lead coffins via Britannica , and eventually, iron coffins became all the rage in England and Scotland.

In the United States, before the Civil War, caskets were made as they were needed by the local furniture craftsman who often doubled as the town's undertaker, according to Northwoods Casket , but that war raised a need for ready-to-go coffins due to the innumerable soldiers who died on the battlefield.

While the lead-lined coffins do protect the environment, the more important aspect of using these types of coffins is the preservation of the body. Lead-lined coffins seal out any kind of moisture and air, ingredients needed for decomposition to begin.

Another benefit of the lead-lined coffin also comes from the vacuum-like seal the lining creates. Just as nothing can get in, nothing can get out, either, meaning the smells released during decomposition, which according to Aftermath , are not great: "Some people compare the putrid stench of a decomposing body to that of rotting fruit. What ensued was the most emotional and unforgettable week in British history as the nation came to terms with the shocking death of the Princess.

Many will remember the sight of the coffin decked in flowers and the royal standard flag draped over the coffin, but also the apparent weight of the coffin and how tough the job was for the Welsh guards who carried it. The fact that she was so famous and so loved among the public in the UK and worldwide meant that she garnered a state funeral and was given the lead coffin of a royal. Lead coffins preserve a body for up to a year, they can be sealed airtight and slow the decomposition of the body.

Not all of the royals have chosen to be buried in these special coffins though. Princess Margaret, who passed away in , was cremated before her ashes were laid in a casket which now rests next to the coffin of her father, King George VI. But The Irish Times , which reported on the story, acknowledged that her unconventional requests were a "break with royal tradition" and reflected her wish to be reunited with her father.

But the practice isn't reserved for royals alone. When former Prime Minister Winston Churchill passed away in , he was also buried in a special coffin, and the pallbearers only found out after the service had begun, because they didn't expect the coffin to be so heavy.

The coffin will be draped with his standard, and carry a wreath and his naval cap and a sword on top. The day will then play out as follows :. Prince Charles will walk behind the coffin, along with other members of the Royal Family, although the Queen will travel separately.

As the royal consort, the Duke is entitled to a full state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. Hundreds of members of the Armed Forces would have been called upon to line the streets in honour of the Duke, along with thousands of police officers to keep control of crowds and protect the members of the Royal Family taking part.