Who was the last person buried in Westminster?

The last king to have his funeral there was George II on 11 November 1760, and even though this was technically a 'private funeral', thereafter more private ? though still very public ? ceremonies have taken place at St George's Chapel, Windsor, instead.



As of early 2026, the last "burial of note" (interment of ashes) in the main floor of Westminster Abbey was that of the world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, whose ashes were interred in "Scientists' Corner" in June 2018, positioned between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. However, burials in the Abbey are now extremely rare and strictly reserved for individuals of monumental national or international significance. While Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was held at the Abbey in 2022, she was not buried there; she was interred at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. For 2026 visitors, it is worth noting that while "burials" have slowed to a near-halt due to lack of space, the Abbey continues to add memorial stones for figures like P.G. Wodehouse. The honor of an actual burial in the Abbey is now a once-in-a-generation event, ensuring the 1,000-year-old tradition remains reserved for those who have fundamentally changed the course of human history.

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An eminent astrophysicist, mathematician, and author, Professor Stephen Hawking was buried at Westminster Abbey in 2018, next to the tombs of Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton. Hawking's gravestone depicts a series of rings that swirl around a dark eclipse, reflecting his pioneering work on black holes.

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George II was the last monarch to be buried in the Abbey, in a vault under the central aisle of this chapel, with his queen Caroline.

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There are over 3000 people buried at Westminster Abbey, which includes 30 kings and queens of England and hundreds of influential figures from various disciplines.

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Who are some of the most notable figures buried in the tombs of Westminster Abbey? A. Westminster Abbey is the last abode of many British monarchs, including Edward the Confessor and Elizabeth I, as well as well known figures such as Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens.

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Hawking's remains were buried on Friday beneath a sunlit arch, between those of Darwin and Newton, at a memorial service at Westminster Abbey.

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Lisa Levinson, head of communications at the Natural Diamond Council, has told Metro: 'Her Majesty is an incredibly humble woman at heart who is unlikely to be dressed in anything but her simple Welsh gold wedding band to rest and a pair of pearl earrings. '

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Buried within Westminster Abbey is the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, this grave contains the body of an unknown British soldier from the First World War.

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Why was Princess Margaret cremated? In the aftermath of her death, “royal watchers” told The New York Times that Princess Margaret had opted to be cremated so that her remains could fit alongside her father King George VI's grave in a vault that was made especially to hold him specifically.

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Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs, and a burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs.

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