Death and state funeral of Winston Churchill

Uncommon card · No. 137060

On 24 January 1965, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War, died at the age of 90. His funeral was the first state funeral in the United Kingdom for a non-member of the royal family since Edward Carson's in 1935. The official funeral lasted for four days. Planning for the funeral, known as Operation Hope Not, began after Churchill's stroke in 1953 while in his second term as prime minister. After several revisions due to Churchill's continued survival, the final plan was issued on 26 January 1965, two days after his death. By decree of Queen Elizabeth II, his body lay in state at Westminster Hall for three days from 26 January. On 30 January, the order of funeral was held at St Paul's Cathedral. From there the body was transported by water along the River Thames to Waterloo station, accompanied by military salutations. In the afternoon he was buried at St Martin's Church, Bladon, the resting place of his ancestors and his brother. Attended by...

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