– It has been decades since the last time so many heads of state gathered in one place. “This is unprecedented, given the variety of things we have to deal with at the same time,” said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Thousands of police officers and hundreds of soldiers are on the streets to ensure that it goes safely as the world’s elite gather for the funeral – at the same time large crowds are expected in central London.

Biden on the spot

US President Joe Biden and other world leaders have flown to the British capital, where King Charles has been invited to a reception on Sunday evening. In total, about 500 nobles, heads of state and government representatives have been invited to the funeral.

– There may be dangerous people who want to harm an individual or some of our world leaders. “We are working very hard, police, security services and more, to ensure that the funeral is as successful as possible,” said Khan.

The Norwegian royal couple are also in London, where they will attend Sunday’s reception and Monday’s funeral.

NTB photographers in London reported long lines, but the atmosphere in central London was great. He said that police sometimes had difficulty directing large crowds, because parks were full and people didn’t know where to go.

[ Kongeparet møter kong Charles søndag kveld ]

Thousands of police officers

When the actual funeral takes place on Monday, more than 10,000 police officers will be working in London. Police have brought in reinforcements from all 43 police districts in the country. In addition, there were hundreds of volunteers and soldiers who participated in guarding along the path of the funeral guests.

Apart from the visible security systems, a lot is working behind the scenes. All security operations are managed from an advanced control center near Lambeth Bridge, close to the Houses of Parliament.

Road covers and trash cans have been inspected and sealed. On Monday, there will be police patrols on the rooftops, police dogs on the streets, harbor cops on the River Thames and cops on horseback on duty.

Gotta ride the bus

The grand ceremony began at 12 noon Norwegian time at Westminster Abbey. The president, prime minister, and royals will meet at another location and will be escorted from there to the ceremony.

An exception was made for US President Joe Biden, who was expected to arrive in his armored limousine called “The Beast”.

[ Briter oppfordres til å unngå køen for å se dronning Elizabeths kiste ]

To be pushed through the city

Another challenge for police is the large crowds expected to gather around Westminster Abbey and along the route by which the coffins will be transported after the funeral, past Buckingham Palace and into Hyde Park. From there it will be transported on a stretcher some 32 kilometers to Windsor Castle, where another 2,000 police officers will be on duty.

After a short service in the Chapel of St. George at Windsor Castle, the Queen will be buried in the crypt below the chapel next to her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year. Already on Sunday, many people were near Windsor Castle.

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