World leaders together with US President Joe Biden, President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, arrived to hitch tons of of others for the Queen’s funeral.
Guests began making their approach inside inside minutes of the tip of the Queen mendacity in state at Westminster Hall, with the final member of the general public making their approach via at round 6.30am.
Mr Biden arrived in his bomb-proof limousine, together with his spouse Jill, they usually have been obtained by the dean of Westminster Abbey.
Mr Biden sat 14 rows again on the south transept behind the Polish chief and in entrance of the chief of the Czech Republic. The First Lady sat subsequent to the Swiss delegation.
Also current is Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako – the primary time the couple have left the nation because the pandemic began. Traditionally the emperor stays away from funerals apart from their very own dad and mom due to cultural perception within the Shinto religions that considers demise impure.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her counterparts from Canada Justin Trudeau and Australia Anthony Albanese have been additionally seen watching the flag-draped coffin be introduced into Westminster Abbey at first of the state funeral, the UK’s first since 1965 when Winston Churchill was afforded the honour.
All of the residing former UK prime ministers together with Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Sir Tony Blair and Sir John Major got here in collectively, shortly earlier than Liz Truss, who is because of learn a lesson on the occasion.
Ms Truss, who attended together with her husband Hugh O’Leary, met leaders together with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Ms Ardern at her momentary nation residence at Chevening on Saturday and different leaders in Downing Street on Sunday.
Among the primary notable faces to hitch the congregation have been Michael and Carole Middleton, two of the grandparents of Prince George, in addition to quite a few members of the federal government and different senior politicians, reminiscent of Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan.
One of the primary royals to reach was Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, who on the age of 19 is representing his father King Mohammed VI.
Irish President Michael Higgins, President of the EU Council Charles Michel and Croatia’s president Moran Milanovic are additionally there, together with the president of Israel Isaac Herzog and his spouse Michal Herzog.
Before the arrival of the Royal Family, who adopted the coffin because it was introduced from Westminster Hall, there was silence within the abbey apart from the distant sound of the tenor bell and the footsteps of friends nonetheless taking their seats as the beginning of the service drew shut.
The first overseas leaders had arrived in three coaches that pulled up outdoors Westminster Abbey containing dozens of figures from nations internationally.
As they alighted and went into the abbey, a single bell tolled each minute to mark the 96 years of the Queen’s life.
At across the identical time a convoy of black Range Rovers, flanked by police outriders, snaked via central London.
Mr Biden’s automobile was caught in site visitors because the US president made his approach to Westminster Abbey.
Footage shared on social media confirmed the armoured automobile, nicknamed the Beast, held up outdoors a Pret a Manger restaurant close to Marble Arch, about 2.5km (1.5 miles) from Westminster Abbey, shortly after 8am.
Dignitaries arriving for Queen’s funeral – reside updates
Many of the overseas dignitaries made their approach to the Abbey from the Royal Chelsea Hospital, the place that they had been gathering since about 7.30am.
The leaders attending have been amongst round 500 others from almost 200 nations and territories.
They embrace almost 100 presidents and heads of presidency, and over 20 royals, in keeping with a Foreign and Commonwealth Office supply.
The solely nations not invited have been Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua are as a result of represented at ambassadorial stage.
China’s Vice President Wang Qishan was additionally seen within the abbey, attending because the particular consultant of President Xi Jinping, regardless of issues over China’s remedy of the Uyghur individuals.
The funeral is being broadcast reside to greater than 200 nations and is alleged to be among the many most-watched occasions within the historical past of tv.
The leaders are among the many 2,000 individuals gathering at Westminster Abbey to recollect the Queen.
Large quantities of Chelsea have been closed off on Monday morning as world leaders arrived on the Royal Chelsea Hospital.
With just a few exceptions, heads of state, prime ministers and ambassadors arrived on the hospital the place they gathered earlier than heading on to the abbey, collectively in coaches, amid tight safety.
Police closed down entry to the roads surrounding the hospital, residence of the Chelsea Pensioners, a few of whom needed to stroll to Westminster.
Bemused cyclists, joggers and canine walkers have been turned away and redirected again in direction of Sloane Square by police places of work from round 7.30am.
An array of vehicles with blacked out home windows and diplomatic quantity plates then proceeded to reach, together with police escorts in SUVs, sweeping down Lower Sloane Street to a checkpoint by Turk’s Row.
There was a transparent order of attendees, with presidents and prime ministers the primary to reach, adopted by overseas royalty and lastly the group from China.
The first friends started arriving on the abbey shortly after 8am, with the primary getting into via the east gate.
Some dignitaries, together with Presidents Macron and Biden had beforehand joined mourners to see the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall.
The operation to maintain secure the dignitaries and the tons of of 1000’s of members of the general public within the capital to see the coffin move by is likely one of the greatest safety operations ever deliberate by the Metropolitan Police.
It surpasses the operation for the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the London 2012 Olympics, which noticed as much as 10,000 cops on obligation every day.
Source: information.sky.com”