What Lord Mountbatten's Real Funeral Was Like, in Photos
The Westminster Abbey ceremony is depicted in season four of The Crown.
On August 29, 1979, Louis Mountbatten, Earl of Burma (also known as Lord Mountbatten and, in The Crown, diminutively as "Uncle Dickie") died off the coast of Ireland in an IRA bomb blast. The remote-controlled explosive, planted on the Mountbattens' fishing boat the night before, took the lives of four people: Lord Mountbatten, his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull, 15-year-old boat hand Paul Maxwell, and the Dowager Baroness Doreen Brabourne, the 83-year-old mother-in-law of Mountbatten's eldest daughter, who died in the hospital the following day.
A week later, on September 5, 1979, the British royal family, government officials, foreign dignitaries, and more gathered at Westminster Abbey for the Earl's funeral service. Here, photos from the very real event, which—thanks to The Crown's newly-released fourth season—has recently reemerged in the cultural consciousness.
Lord Mountbatten's coffin, draped in a Union Jack, arrived at Westminster Abbey following a procession through the streets of London.
Members of Britain's armed forces marched alongside representatives from Burma, India, the United States, France, and Canada, per the BBC.
Prince Charles and Prince Philip donned full Naval regalia for the ceremony.
An admiral's hat, Mountbatten's sword of honor, and his gold stick were laid on top of the coffin.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, holding their programs, watch the procession arrive at the Abbey.
Prince Edward and Prince Andrew stand for the ceremony.
The procession arrives at the Abbey.
Lord Mountbatten had laid out most of the arrangements for his funeral a few years before his death. This meant that, among other things, Japan was not represented at the ceremony—a decision suspected by the New York Times to have been motivated by Mountbatten's enduring ill will towards the nation, following his time fighting in Southeast Asia during World War II.
Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco also attend the funeral.
Following the ceremony, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and more royals left the Abbey together.
Another view of the Windsors' exit after the ceremony.
The Queen's children and Princess Margaret can be seen leaving the Abbey.
The coffin of Lord Mountbatten is photographed at Waterloo Station, after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Princess Anne and her then-husband Mark Phillips board a train at Waterloo Station following the funeral.
Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle’s staff to Queen Elizabeth’s monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
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