World leaders head to London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral

Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, Lying in State inside Westminster Hall, London Sunday. Pic/AFP

Thousands of police, hundreds of troops and an army of officials made final preparations Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II - a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years. U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for the funeral, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited.

Thousands of people continued to line up around the clock to file past the queen's coffin as it lies in state at Parliament's Westminster Hall, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours. The queen's eight grandchildren, led by heir to the throne Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening. The miles-long queue was to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everyone in line can file past the coffin before Monday morning, when it will be borne to Westminster Abbey for the queen's funeral.

People across the U.K. were due to pause Sunday evening for a nationwide minute of silence to remember the queen, who died Sept. 8 at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne. Monday has been declared a public holiday, and the funeral will be broadcast to a huge television audience and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country. More than 10,000 police officers from around the country will be on duty as part of the biggest one-day policing operation in London's history.

The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning, when the queen's coffin will be moved to nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain's longest-reigning monarch. After the service Monday at the abbey, the coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a horse-drawn gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

British flags from Chinese factory

Ninety minutes after Queen Elizabeth II died, orders for thousands of British flags started to flood into a factory south of Shanghai. More than 100 employees at Shaoxing Chuangdong Tour Articles Co. set aside other work and put in 14-hour days starting at 7:30 a.m. making nothing but British-themed flags. They turned out at least 5,00,000 the first week, according to general manager Fan Aiping.

The funeral in figures

1mn
The number of people London transport authorities expect to visit the capital on Monday.

2,000
Dignitaries and guests in Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, ranging from King Charles III and other royals to world leaders including US President Joe Biden to members of British public who helped battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

800
Guests at a committal service later in the day at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

5,949
Military personnel deployed through the meticulously choreographed operation that began with the queen's death

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