The live broadcast of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, taking place in Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September, is expected to reach 4.1billion viewers worldwide.
Analysts at WatchTVAbroad.com, one of the biggest websites dedicated to films and TV shows, predict the Queen’s funeral will overtake Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997 and Michael Jackson’s memorial service in 2009 by 1.6billion viewers.
Broadcast on TV networks around the world, both events drew an audience of 2.5 billion.
If the predictions are correct, Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will become the most-viewed live broadcast of all time, surpassing the world’s most memorable sporting events, charity concerts and royal weddings to date.
In order, these are:
- Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service, 2009 (2.5billion Viewers)
- The Funeral of Diana, Princess Of Wales, 1997 (2.5billion Viewers)
- Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks II, 1978 (2billion Viewers)
- Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes: The Last Hurrah, 1980 (2billion Viewers)
- Live 8, 2005 (2billion Viewers)
- Live Aid, 1985 (1.9billion Viewers)
- The Wedding of Prince Harry And Meghan Markle, 2018 (1.9billion Viewers)
- Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite, 1973 (1.5billion Viewers)
- Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki, 1976 (1.4billion Viewers)
- Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman, 2010 (1billion Viewers)
Across the UK, 33million people watched the announcement of Queen Elizabeth’s death on 8 September 2022, making it the country’s most-viewed live broadcast ever.
Before that, 32.3million Brits tuned in to see England beat West Germany in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final.
Featured image: Iain Cameron @Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
