An invitation card to The State Funeral of The Duke of Wellington 1852

A thick card invitation, 18cm x 12cm, printed with a black patterned boarder, and then embossed with a stamp by the Ear marshal of England with his coat of arms; the invitation is in about very good condition, but is moderately browned, and has foxing in places, there is also a crease to the top right hand corner of the card. 
 
An original invitation to attend the Duke of Wellington’s funeral. This one has been handwritten on the top of the card as number 989, to be seated in the west aisle of the North Transept of St Paul’s Cathedral. The invite then states in print “Funeral of the late Field Marshal, the Duke of Wellington K.G. Admit to St Pauls Cathedral, Norfolk Earl Marshal”. 
 
Arthur Wellesley, The Duke of Wellington, former Prime Minister and national war hero, was laid to rest on 18 November 1852, with a state funeral, and was buried in the crypt of St Pauls. Wellington had expressed a wish to be buried in Walmer Castle in Kent, but Queen Victoria was having none of it, and after he had passed, she requested a great state funeral to be financed by and voted through parliament. Victoria stipulated that Wellington be interred at St Pauls alongside Lord Nelson. 
 
So, The Duke of Wellington moved steadily through London in a funeral car in a procession met by thousands of well-wishers. St Pauls was also packed out with many incidents of crushing reported. Upon being given a signal, guns fired the Tower of London, fanfare sounded, and Wellington joined Nelson, bringing the service to a close.