Tuesday 20 September 2022 11:14 AM 'Abnormally high levels' of TV viewers tuned in to see Queen's historic state ... trends now
Billions of people across the world are anticipated to have tuned in to witness the historic state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, leaving television executives dealing with an 'abnormally high' volume of viewers.
Britain's stunning send-off to the nation's beloved monarch is expected to be the most-watched moment in TV history, with more than half of the world's population anticipated to have watched it.
The adored sovereign was given the biggest send-off in British history on Monday following her record 70 years as the Commonwealth's head of state.
And the mammoth numbers of viewers watching the spectacle from home, fields and cinemas. has left statisticians struggling to comprehend the total.
It had been hoped the numbers would be revealed by 9.30am on Tuesday by the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB).
But it's now believed it will take hours more to count up the enormous number of viewers.
In a statement , Overnights.TV - which pieces together television figures - told MailOnline: 'We have been informed by BARB that due to abnormally high levels of viewing for The State Funeral data will be delayed today.'
The Queen's historic state funeral on Monday attracted record-breaking numbers of viewers from across the globe, who watched as her coffin was pulled through the streets of London
It's estimated a whopping 4.1 billion people - more than half the population of the world - witnessed the historic spectacle
The number eclipsed those who tuned in to witness the marriage of Princess Diana to Prince Charles in 1981, which was viewed by about a billion people
1985: More than 1.9 billion watched the late Freddie Mercury stun the Wembley crowd for their iconic Live Aid show
Millions of mourners packed into Westminster and Buckingham Palace to witness the Queen's funeral, with people flying from the far reaches of the globe to be a part of the commemorations.
And countless more lined the roads from London to Windsor, where Her Majesty was eventually laid to rest, with lines six or seven deep pictured during the Queen's final 22-mile journey from Wellington Arch to St George's Chapel, where she was laid to rest alongside her husband, father, mother and sister in the royal crypt
Such is the love for the 96-year-old monarch around the world, her funeral attracted huge numbers of viewers - with the total number expected to outstrip the previous record-breaking opening of the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, viewed by 3.5 billion people.
More than half the world's population were anticipated to have watched the final chapter of the Second Elizabethan Age draw to a close as the Queen was laid to rest in Windsor.
Live coverage of the spectacle was aired across BBC One, BBC News and iPlayer throughout the day, with ITV and Sky also broadcasting the event.
BBC and ITV are still putting together their total figures from the day, the MailOnline understands.
