Burial places of British royalty facts for kids

The burial places of British royalty are the known graves of kings, queens, and important members of their families from different parts of the British Isles. This includes rulers from Scotland, England, native princes of Wales up to 1283, and monarchs of Great Britain and the United Kingdom. It's a journey through history to see where these powerful figures were laid to rest.

English Monarchs (Before 1603)

Early English Kings (Before 1066)

Many early English kings were buried in places like Winchester Cathedral or Glastonbury Abbey. Sometimes, their bones were moved around over the centuries!

• Egbert (died 839): Buried in Old Minster, Winchester, his bones are now thought to be in Winchester Cathedral.
• Æthelwulf (died 855): First buried in Steyning Church, then moved to Old Minster, Winchester. His bones are also believed to be in Winchester Cathedral.
• Æthelbald (died 860) and Æthelbert (died 866): Both buried at Sherborne Abbey, Dorset.
• Æthelred I (died 871): Buried at Wimborne Minster, Dorset.
• Alfred the Great (died 899): First buried in Old Minster, Winchester, then moved to New Minster, and later to Hyde Abbey. His exact resting place is now unknown.
• Edward the Elder (died 924): Like Alfred, he was first in New Minster, Winchester and then Hyde Abbey. His current burial spot is also unknown.
• Æthelstan (died 939): Buried at Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire. His tomb is now empty.
• Edmund I (died 946): Buried at Glastonbury Abbey.
• Eadred (died 955): Buried in Old Minster, Winchester, his bones are now thought to be in Winchester Cathedral.
• Eadwig (Edwy) (died 959): His bones are believed to be in Winchester Cathedral.
• Edgar (died 975): Buried at Glastonbury Abbey.
• Edward the Martyr (died 978): First buried at Shaftesbury Abbey, Dorset. His bones are now said to be in the Church of St. Edward the Martyr, Brookwood.
• Æthelred the Unready (died 1016): Buried at Old St Paul's Cathedral. His tomb was lost in the Great Fire of London.
• Edmund Ironside (died 1016): Buried at Glastonbury Abbey.
• Sweyn Forkbeard (died 1014): Buried in Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark.
• Cnut the Great (died 1035): Buried in Old Minster, Winchester, his bones are now thought to be in Winchester Cathedral.
• Harold Harefoot (died 1040): Buried at St Clement Danes, London.
• Harthacnut (died 1042): His bones are believed to be in Winchester Cathedral.
• Edward the Confessor (died 1066): He was the first king buried in Westminster Abbey. His remains were later moved to a special shrine there.
• Harold Godwinson (died 1066): Believed to be buried at Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Later English Kings (After 1066)

After William the Conqueror, many English monarchs found their final resting places in grand abbeys and cathedrals.

• William I (the Conqueror) (died 1087): Buried at Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen, Normandy. His remains were destroyed later.
• William II (died 1100): Buried at Winchester Cathedral.
• Henry I (died 1135): Buried at Reading Abbey, Berkshire. His remains were lost when the Abbey was destroyed.
• Stephen (died 1154): Buried at Faversham Abbey, Kent. His grave was destroyed after the Abbey was taken apart.
• Empress Matilda (died 1167): Buried at Rouen Cathedral, Normandy, France.
• Henry II (died 1189) and Richard I (died 1199): Both buried at Fontevraud Abbey, Anjou, France. Their graves are gone, but their statues (effigies) remain.
• John (died 1216): Buried at Worcester Cathedral.
• Henry III (died 1272) and Edward I (died 1307): Both buried in Edward the Confessor's Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• Edward II (died 1327): Buried at Gloucester Cathedral.
• Edward III (died 1377) and Richard II (died 1400): Both buried in Edward the Confessor's Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• Henry IV (died 1413): Buried at Canterbury Cathedral.
• Henry V (died 1422): Buried at Westminster Abbey.
• Henry VI (died 1471): First buried at Windsor Castle, then reburied in St George's Chapel in 1484.
• Edward IV (died 1483): Buried at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
• Edward V (died ?1483): It's believed he was murdered and secretly buried in the Tower of London. Bones thought to be his and his brother's were found in 1674 and reburied in Westminster Abbey.
• Richard III (died 1485): First buried in Greyfriars, Leicester. His original tomb was lost. His remains were found by archaeologists in 2012 and reburied in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.
• Henry VII (died 1509): Buried in the Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• Henry VIII (died 1547): Buried at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
• Edward VI (died 1553): Buried in the Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• Lady Jane Grey (died 1554): Buried at St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London.
• Mary I (died 1558) and Elizabeth I (died 1603): Both buried in the Henry VII Lady Chapel, Westminster Abbey.

Scottish Monarchs (Before 1603)

Many early Scottish kings were buried on the island of Iona.

• Kenneth MacAlpin (died 858), Donald I (died 862), Constantine I (died 877), Áed (died 878), Giric (died 889), Donald II (died 900), Malcolm I (died 954), Indulf (died 962), Dub (died 967), Cuilén (died 972), Kenneth II (died 995), Constantine III (died 997), Kenneth III (died 1005), Malcolm II (died 1034), Duncan I (died 1040), Macbeth (died 1057), Lulach (died 1058): All buried at Iona Abbey.
• Eochaid (died Unknown): Burial place unknown.
• Constantine II (died 952): Probably buried at a monastery in St Andrews.
• Malcolm Canmore (died 1093): First buried in Tynemouth, then moved to Dunfermline Abbey.
• Donald III (died after 1097): Buried at Iona Abbey.
• Duncan II (died 1094), Edgar (died 1107), Alexander I (died 1124), David I (died 1153), Malcolm IV (died 1165): All buried at Dunfermline Abbey.
• William I (the Lion) (died 1214): Buried at Arbroath Abbey.
• Alexander II (died 1249): Buried at Melrose Abbey.
• Alexander III (died 1286): Buried at Dunfermline Abbey.
• Margaret, Maid of Norway (died 1290): Buried at Christ's Kirk, Bergen.
• John Balliol (died 1313): Probably buried in France.
• Robert the Bruce (died 1329): His body was buried at Dunfermline Abbey. His heart was removed and buried at Melrose Abbey.
• David II (died 1371): Buried at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.
• Robert II (died 1390): Buried at Scone Abbey.
• Robert III (died 1406): Buried at Paisley Abbey.
• James I (died 1437): Buried at Perth Charterhouse, Perth.
• James II (died 1460): Buried at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.
• James III (died 1488): Buried at Cambuskenneth Abbey. His tomb was paid for by Queen Victoria.
• James IV (died 1513): His body was probably displayed in London, but his final resting place is unknown.
• James V (died 1542): Buried at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh.
• Mary, Queen of Scots (died 1587): First buried at Peterborough Cathedral (1588–1612), then moved to Westminster Abbey.

Welsh Princes (Before 1283)

These are the burial places of the native princes who ruled parts of Wales before 1283.

• Owain Gwynedd (died 1170): Buried at Bangor Cathedral.
• Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd (died 1203): Prince of North Wales only. Possibly buried in England.
• The Lord Rhys (died 1197): Prince of South Wales only. Buried at St. David's Cathedral.
• Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great) (died 1240): First buried at Aberconwy Abbey. His sarcophagus (stone coffin) is now at the parish church of Llanrwst.
• Dafydd ap Llywelyn (died 1246): First buried at Aberconwy Abbey. His current burial place is unknown.
• Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (died 1282): Buried at Cwmhir Abbey.
• Dafydd ap Gruffudd (died 1283): He was executed at Shrewsbury.

Monarchs Since 1603

This section covers the rulers of England and Scotland (from 1603-1707), then Great Britain (1707-1801), and finally the United Kingdom (1801-present).

• James VI and I (died 1625): Buried in the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• Charles I (died 1649): Buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

The Cromwells (During the Interregnum)

During a time when there was no king, Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard ruled as 'Lords Protector'.

• Oliver Cromwell (Protector) (died 1658): First buried in Westminster Abbey. His body was later removed and treated badly after the monarchy returned. His head is said to be buried at Sidney Sussex College.
• Richard Cromwell (Protector) (died 1712): Buried at All Saints Church, Hursley, Hampshire.

Restored Monarchy

After the Cromwells, the kings and queens returned.

• Charles II (died 1685): Buried in the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• James II and VII (died 1701): Buried in Paris. His grave was lost during the French Revolution.
• Mary II (died 1694), William III and II (died 1702), Anne (died 1714): All buried in the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• George I (died 1727): Buried in Hanover, Germany. He was the last British monarch buried outside the British Isles.
• George II (died 1760): Buried in the Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey.
• George III (died 1820), George IV (died 1830), William IV (died 1837): All buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
• Queen Victoria (died 1901): Buried at Frogmore, Windsor.
• Edward VII (died 1910) and George V (died 1936): Both buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
• Edward VIII (died 1972): Buried at the Royal burial ground at Frogmore, Windsor.
• George VI (died 1952): Buried at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
• Elizabeth II (died 2022): Buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Other Royal Burials

Many other important royal family members are buried in various locations. Here are some of the main places:

• Frogmore (Duchess of Kent's Mausoleum, Royal Mausoleum, Royal Burial Ground):

* Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent (1861) * Prince Albert (1861) * Princess Helena * Prince Arthur of Connaught * Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught * Princess Louise * Prince William of Gloucester (1972) * Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester * Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester * Prince George, Duke of Kent * Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1968) * Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (1986) * Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone * The Earl of Athlone * Viscount Trematon * Lady May Abel Smith * Sir Henry Abel Smith

• St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle:

* Queen Elizabeth Woodville (1492) * Queen Jane Seymour (1537) * Princess Amelia (1810) * Princess Augusta, Dowager Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1813) * Princess Charlotte (1817) * Queen Charlotte (1818) * Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (1820) * Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany (1827) * Princess Augusta (1840) * Queen Adelaide (1849) * Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1884) * Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence (1892) * Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (1897) * Prince Francis, Duke of Teck (1900) * Queen Alexandra (1925) * Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (re-interred 1930) * Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge (re-interred 1930) * Queen Mary (1953) * Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (ashes 2002) * Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (2002) * Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (2021)

• Westminster Abbey:

* Edith of Wessex (1079) * Matilda of Scotland (1118) * Eleanor of Castile * Philippa of Hainault * Anne of Bohemia * Catherine of Valois * Anne Neville (1485) * Elizabeth of York * Anne of Cleves (1557) * Anne of Denmark (1619) * Elizabeth of Bohemia (1662) * Prince George of Denmark (1708) * Caroline of Ansbach (1737)

• Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London:

* Anne Boleyn (1536) * Catherine Howard (1542) * Lady Jane Grey (1554) * Guildford Dudley (1554)

• Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh:

* Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1567)

Images for kids

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  Winchester Cathedral

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  Ethelwulf's tombstone, from St Andrew's Church, Steyning

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  Sherborne Abbey

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  Wimborne Minster

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  Hyde Abbey

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  The (now empty) tomb of Athelstan in Malmesbury Abbey

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  Glastonbury Abbey

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  Winchester Cathedral

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  Glastonbury Abbey

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  Shrine of St. Edward the Martyr

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  Old St Paul's

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  Roskilde Cathedral

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  St Clement Danes

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  Westminster Abbey

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  Waltham Abbey

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  Men's abbey, St Etienne church, chevet

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  Reading Abbey

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  Rouen Cathedral

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  Henry II

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  Tomb of Richard I and Isabella of Angoulême

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  Tomb in Worcester Cathedral

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  Tomb in Westminster Abbey

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  Tomb in Westminster Abbey

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  Tomb in Gloucester Cathedral

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  Tomb in Westminster Abbey

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  Canterbury Cathedral

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  St George's Chapel

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  St Peter ad Vincula - resting place of those executed for treason

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  Iona Abbey

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  Dunfermline Abbey

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  Arbroath Abbey

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  Melrose Abbey

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  Christ's Kirk, Bergen

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  Marker for Heart burial of Bruce

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  Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh

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  Paisley Abbey

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  The tomb of James III, funded by Queen Victoria

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  a replica of Mary's tombstone in Westminster abbey at the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

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  Welfenmausoleum

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  Mausoleum in Frogmore Gardens, Windsor of Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert

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  Edward is buried with the Duchess of Windsor, at Frogmore

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  King George VI memorial chapel

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  Tomb of James Francis Edward Stuart, Charles Edward Stuart and Henry Benedict Stuart, "grotte vaticane"

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  monument to the Royal Stuarts, Rome

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  Duchess of Kent's Mausoleum

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  Royal Burial Ground

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  St Ninian's Chapel

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  Church of St John, Mirow

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Tumbas reales británicas para niños