Former British prime minister Winston Churchill.

Former British prime minister Winston Churchill.Yousuf Karsh / Library and Archives of Canada.

Winston Churchill, an icon too many, and certainly the United Kingdom's most revered Prime Minister, funeral recalled.

When discussing the merits and legacies of Britain's Prime Ministers who have come and gone, there is perhaps no name that gets mentioned more than Winston Churchill.

Born in 1874, Churchill steered Britain through one of its most treacherous times and is considered a war hero.

With that being said, there are questions over Churchill's legacy. Many have leveled accusations of racism and colonialism at the late leader.

This, of course, remains up for debate, but what can't be questioned is the overwhelming sentiment that Churchill is a war hero. This train of thought stretches far beyond the British Isles.

Queen Elizabeth herself shared a special bond with Winston Churchill, despite their apparent differences in nature.

Churchill's funeral

Winston Churchill died on 24 Jan 1965, at the age of 90, from a series of strokes. Queen Elizabeth immediately contacted Churchill's wife lamenting the loss of his 'many-sided genius'. 

Churchill's funeral was the first state funeral for a non-royal family member since that of Edward Carson in 1935 and was a seminal moment in British history. Representatives from 115 countries were present, making it one of the largest events of its kind. 

Have a look at the footage below, courtesy of British Pathe

* Originally published in Oct 2019.