Cards and flowers are laid out following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, in Balmoral, Scotland, UK on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
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https://scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3192087/uks-biggest-security-operation-planned-first-state-funeral-1965 Europe
Queen’s funeral set for September 19; heavy security planned ahead of first state funeral since 1965
- Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral is the first since that of Winston Churchill, Britain’s prime minister during World War II, nearly 6 decades ago
- Event will be in a ‘very different threat world’ compared with previous royal funerals, such as the Queen Mother’s in 2002 and Princess Diana’s 5 years earlier
An armed police officer stands guard in London on day two of public mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s police are making plans for security at her funeral. Photo: Bloomberg
Palace officials say the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth will take place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey in London after the public gets an opportunity to pay their last respects to the monarch.
Elizabeth, the nation’s longest-reigning sovereign, died on Thursday at her summer retreat, Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Details on the 96-year old queen’s funeral will be released later, but organisers on Saturday described the ceremony as a “a fitting farewell to one of the defining figures of our times.’’
Palace officials said there would be opportunities to see the late sovereign’s oak coffin as it journeys from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh and again in London, where her body will lie in state for four days starting on Wednesday.
The queen’s funeral will be Britain’s first state funeral in nearly six decades and security officials are planning what is expected to be the “biggest policing and protective operation” in UK history.
Police are dusting off long-standing plans to keep safe attendees – including global political leaders and royalty – at the historic funeral, as well as the millions predicted to flock to London around the time of the event.
The queen’s funeral will be the first state funeral since the service in 1965 for Winston Churchill, Britain’s prime minister during World War II.
Before that, the queen’s body is set to lie in state for four days in Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the UK Parliamentary estate, following a ceremonial procession through the streets of London.
The pomp-laden events, in particular the funeral, will require an array of elaborate security measures as hundreds of world leaders and dignitaries as well as millions of people are expected to descend on London.
They include US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and leaders from countries where the British monarch is head of state or which are members of the 56-nation Commonwealth.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito will be among royalty from around the world set to attend the funeral, according to reports, in his first overseas trip since he ascended the Chrysanthemum throne in 2019 following his father’s abdication.
“This will be probably the biggest policing and protective operation the UK has ever mounted,” Nick Aldworth, former Counter Terrorism Policing National Coordinator, said.
“It just takes one car, one person to do something abhorrent and not only have you disrupted a constitutional event, people will be injured and killed.”
Aldworth noted the ceremonial events would occur in a “very different threat world” compared with previous royal funerals, such as the Queen Mother’s in 2002 and Princess Diana’s five years earlier.
Britain has been hit by numerous terror attacks in the past decade, including a spate of atrocities in London, Manchester and other cities by jihadist extremists.
The current national threat level, set by the country’s MI5 domestic security service and designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack, is “substantial”.
That is in the middle of a five-tier ranking system rising from “low” to “critical”.
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Hongkongers remember Queen Elizabeth
London’s Metropolitan police said on Friday that it had already begun deploying “well-rehearsed” plans for the official 10-day national mourning period, which will culminate in the landmark service for the country’s longest-serving monarch.
“We will be keeping people safe with highly visible patrols across London”, the force said. “The public will see additional officers posted outside key locations, including transport hubs, royal parks and outside royal residences in London”.
The Met is coordinating its policing blueprint with the British Transport Police, which is responsible for the national transport network, and City of London Police, which secures the so-called “Square Mile” financial district.
The Met’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said the “comprehensive policing plan” would be most visible in and around Westminster, which is home to parliament, the abbey and Buckingham Palace.