World leaders gather to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II on day of monarch's state funeral – in pictures

World leaders gather to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II on day of monarch's state funeral – in pictures
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Tom Evans

By Tom Evans


Published: 19/09/2022

- 09:15

Updated: 19/09/2022

- 11:20

World leaders have descended on London in their droves to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II

Heads of state and overseas government representatives, including foreign royal families, governors-general and realm prime ministers initially gathered at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on Monday morning.

They will then travel under collective arrangements to Westminster Abbey, now over 1,000 years old, ahead of arguably the biggest funeral in Britain's history.

A selection of photographs from the arrivals can be seen below.

The outpouring of grief has not been restricted to those invited to the funeral itself, either.

Thousands have lined the streets or taken up spots in one of the city's public parks, notably Green Park and Hyde Park, to get a view of Her Majesty's coffin before it is driven to Windsor.

It is believed Queen Elizabeth II's funeral will be the "largest single policing event ever undertaken" in London.

The event on Monday is expected to be bigger even than the policing response around the 2012 Olympics and this year's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

In a security briefing to the media, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said “almost every force in the country” had officers involved in the policing operation around the Capital.

The senior commander said some 20,000 officer shifts were being worked throughout the week leading up the funeral.

He said the policing operation would increase significantly as the funeral approaches, but could not give details of the number of officers likely to be involved.

DAC Cundy said the event was a “truly national policing operation, and difficult to compare to any other event".

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: A general view inside Westminster Abbey ahead of The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. Gareth Cattermole/Pool via REUTERS
Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral
POOL

Guests and officials begin to take their places at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.
Invited guests attending Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral
Frank Augstein

Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly at Westminster Abbey, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022 REUTERS/John Sibley
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arriving
JOHN SIBLEY

Guests arrive, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
Guests arriving at Westminster Abbey
PHIL NOBLE

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (right) arriving at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer arriving at Westminster Abbey
Peter Byrne

Order of Service on seats ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.
Orders of service arranged on seats in the historic abbey
Phil Noble

U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. first lady Jill Biden walk outside Westminster Abbey, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
US President Joe Biden with wife Jill
KAI PFAFFENBACH

French President Emanuel Macron and wife Brigitte arriving for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022. Gareth Fuller/Pool via REUTERS
French President Emmanuel Macron with wife Brigitte
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The funeral of Her Majesty the Queen at Westminster Abbey. Picture shows President of Israel Isaac Herzog and wife Michal Herzog. September 19, 2022. Geoff Pugh/Pool via REUTERS
President of Israel Isaac Herzog and wife Michal Herzog
POOL

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha walk outside the Westminster Abbey, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/Pool
Former Prime Minister David Cameron with wife Samantha
HANNAH MCKAY

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie walk outside the Westminster Abbey, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/Pool
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson
HANNAH MCKAY

Former British prime ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair arrive at Westminster Abbey on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Former Labour PMs Tony Blair and Gordon Brown
KAI PFAFFENBACH

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives at Westminster Abbey on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
KAI PFAFFENBACH

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin
Peter Byrne

The coffin is moved to Westminster Abbey on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, September 19, 2022. Rupert Frere/Pool via REUTERS
Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral
POOL

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