THE lying-in-state and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II cost the Government an estimated £161.7million, figures show.

The Treasury stats reveal the Home Office racked up the largest bill for September’s events at £73.7million.

That was followed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at £57.4million.

Downing Street said the expense was to facilitate a smooth running of the occasion and ensure mourners from the UK and across the world could visit and take part safely.

A No 10 spokesman said yesterday: “Of course, a major international event of this scale, we wanted to ensure that we could enable people to pay their respects.”

Other costs include £2.9 million by the Ministry of Defence, £2.6 million by the Department for Transport, £2.2 million by the Welsh Government and £2.1 million by both the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Northern Ireland Office.

The Treasury said the costs include “fully refunding” the Scottish and Welsh Governments, and the Northern Ireland Office, “which in turn they were able to repay to partners who also incurred costs”.

The late Queen’s final farewell was the nation’s first state funeral for more than half a century.

The last one held was for wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.