Prince Philip not frozen in refrigerated vault

Queen Elizabeth II’s dying on Sept. 8 set in movement a 10-day mourning period that may finish following her state funeral Sept. 19. Following the news of her dying, it was reported by British media that her late husband, Prince Philip, could be moved from the royal vault to be buried alongside her.

In a tweet favored greater than 200,000 occasions, American poet Mira Gonzalez claimed Prince Phillip was positioned in the Royal Vault, likening it to a “fancy refrigerator,” till he could possibly be buried with the queen. One of the most popular replies to the tweet requested if it was true.

Was Prince Philip’s physique put in a refrigerated vault?

No, Prince Philip’s physique was not put in a refrigerated vault. His physique was positioned in the Royal Vault, which is a burial chamber that’s not refrigerated. 

At the conclusion of his funeral service in April 2021, Prince Philip’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, a burial chamber positioned in St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace says. This decreasing of his coffin might be seen in Buckingham Palace’s video of the funeral.

Although the Royal Vault had meant to be only a momentary residence for Prince Philip’s physique, that doesn’t imply he was frozen or saved in a morgue. The Royal Vault, Buckingham Palace says, is one among two main burial vaults in St. George’s Chapel, which additionally homes a number of royal tombs.

“It is merely an ordinary (though terribly grand) vault, where coffins of monarchs and their consorts are temporarily deposited until such time as their permanent spaces in St George’s Chapel have been decided upon and constructed, after which their remains will be transferred there for permanent deposit,” mentioned Julian Litten, a vp for the Church Monument Society in the United Kingdom. “This has been the case since the death of King Edward VII in 1910, and no doubt will continue for many years to come.”

When Litten says it’s an “ordinary vault,” he signifies that it’s merely an underground chamber made from stone with none form of refrigeration in any way.

The Royal Vault has been used for each momentary and everlasting burials because it accepted its first resident in 1810. The College of St. George, which runs St. George’s Chapel, says 50 folks have been buried in the Royal Vault over time, though each coffin lowered into the Royal Vault since 1931 has solely remained there quickly.

More from VERIFY: Fact-checking photographs of Queen Elizabeth II following her dying

Three photos of the royal vault from the Royal Collection Trust present the within of the burial chamber. The footage depict a stone room with excessive arches, which incorporates area for coffins each on the heart of the room and on cabinets on the sides of the room. A coffin on the heart of the room in two pictures belongs to King Edward VII, whom the College of St. George says is now buried in a chapel tomb separate from the Royal Vault.

Today, three British kings stay buried in the Royal Vault, the College of St. George says. The most up-to-date of these kings is King William IV, who died in 1837.

While the precise particulars of the late queen’s burial have but to be formally introduced, the BBC reports that her coffin will likely be lowered into the Royal Vault a lot the identical means Prince Philip’s coffin was. She will then be moved to the King George VI Memorial Chapel, a small alcove to the side of the main chapel, to be buried subsequent to her late father, King George VI.

This is definitely much like the circumstances of her father’s burial. The College of St. George says King George VI was buried in the royal vault in 1952, and later moved to his namesake chapel in 1969.

Media reports say Prince Philip may also be moved to King George VI Memorial Chapel to be positioned alongside Queen Elizabeth II, though Buckingham Palace has not but revealed official plans.

More from VERIFY: Yes, King Charles III’s likeness will begin showing on cash in the UK