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| Photo Credit: AP. |
LONDON (AP) — The funeral of the only monarch most Britons have known involves the biggest security operation London has ever seen.
Mayor Sadiq
Khan says Monday’s state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II is an “unprecedented”
security challenge, with hundreds of thousands of people packing central London
and a funeral guest list of 500 emperors, kings, queens, presidents, prime
ministers and other leaders from around the world.
“It’s been
decades since this many world leaders were in one place,” said Khan. “This is
unprecedented ... in relation to the various things that we’re juggling.”
“There could
be bad people wanting to cause damage to individuals or to some of our world
leaders,” Khan told The Associated Press. “So we are working incredibly hard —
the police, the security services and many, many others — to make sure this
state funeral is as successful as it can be.”
Metropolitan
Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said the “hugely complex”
policing operation is the biggest in the London force’s history, surpassing the
London 2012 Olympics.
More than
10,000 police officers will be on duty Monday, with London bobbies supplemented
by reinforcements from all of Britain’s 43 police forces. Hundreds of volunteer
marshals and members of the armed forces will also act as stewards along the
processional route.
They are
just the most visible part of a security operation that is being run from a
high-tech control center near Lambeth Bridge, not far from Parliament.
Street
drains and garbage bins are being searched and sealed. On Monday there will be
police spotters on rooftops, sniffer dogs on the streets, marine officers on
the River Thames and mounted police on horseback.
Flying
drones over central London has been temporarily banned, and Heathrow Airport is
grounding scores of flights so that aircraft noise does not disturb the funeral
service.
Authorities
face the challenge of keeping 500 world leaders safe, without ruffling too many
diplomatic feathers. Presidents, prime ministers and royalty will gather
offsite before being taken by bus to the abbey — though an exception is being
made for U.S. President Joe Biden, who is expected to arrive in his armored
limousine, known as The Beast.
Another
challenge is the sheer size of the crowds expected to gather around Westminster
Abbey and along the route the coffin will travel after the funeral, past
Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park. From there it will be taken by hearse about 20
miles (32 kilometers) to Windsor, where another 2,000 police officers will be
on duty.
The queen is
due to be interred in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle alongside her
husband Prince Philip, who died last year aged 99.
Police are
deploying more than 22 miles (36 kilometers) of barriers in central London to
control the crowds, and transit bosses are preparing for jam-packed stations,
buses and subway trains as 1 million people flood the ceremonial heart of
London. Subways will run later than normal and train companies are adding extra
services to help get people home.
While many
will be mourning the queen, support for the monarchy is far from universal.
Police have already drawn criticism for arresting several people who staged
peaceful protests during events related to the queen’s death and the accession
of King Charles III.
Cundy said
it had been made clear to officers that “people have a right to protest.”
“Our
response here in London will be proportionate, it will be balanced, and
officers will only be taking action where it is absolutely necessary,” he said.
Metropolitan
Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said the goal was to keep the event safe, “and
try to do it in as unobtrusive a way as possible, because this is obviously a
solemn occasion.”
Dean of
Westminster David Hoyle, who will conduct the funeral service in the 900-year-old
abbey, said preparations were going smoothly — despite the occasional
security-related glitch.
“There was a
wonderful moment when I had flower arrangers waiting in the abbey, and no
flowers, because, quite properly, the police didn’t recognize what the van was
and the flowers were sent back,” he said.
Follow AP
coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii