London’s police force said Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral will be the biggest security operation ever undertaken as prime ministers, presidents and royals gather to pay their respects.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the most important guests from abroad who have confirmed their presence.
“I can confirm that this will be the biggest single-handed policing event the Metropolitan Police has ever held,” London Metropolitan Police Assistant Deputy Commissioner Stuart Cundy told the press.
“As a one-time event, this is bigger than the 2012 Olympics. It’s bigger than the Platinum Jubilee weekend.”
two minute silence
A two-minute national silence will be held shortly before Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral ends on Monday, palace officials have revealed.
The meticulously planned arrangements should be a fitting farewell to Britain’s oldest monarch, and will see King Charles III and members of the royal family walk behind the coffin once again as it is moved from the heart of the British parliament to Westminster.
Speaking on behalf of the many agencies and departments involved in the funeral, the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, said that orchestrating the event was “both humiliating and terrifying”.
(From CNN’s Max Foster and Lauren Said-Moorhouse; edited by Kate Holton)
