Queen’s funeral a huge security test: police

London’s police force said the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth will be the biggest security operation it has ever undertaken as prime ministers, presidents and royals come together on Monday to pay their respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.The queen’s funeral is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people to London’s streets, echoing other important events in Britain’s history, including her coronation in 1953, the funeral of former prime minister Winston Churchill in 1965 and the death of Princess Diana in 1997.Stuart Cundy, London’s Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner, said the force was preparing for events ranging from terrorism threats to protests and crowd crushes.He said his force would be deploying the largest ever number of officers on the city’s streets and the largest protection operation for world leaders and royals in the police’s almost 200 year history, with officers from almost every force in the country deployed.Among the specialist officers on duty will be divers, dog handlers, police on horses, motorcycle outriders, firearms officers and close protection officers, who will guard leaders and members of the royal family from around the world.US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the most high-profile guests from overseas who have confirmed they will be attending. Cundy said the massive policing operation would surpass other major policing events in London, including the 2012 Olympics and the celebrations in June for the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which celebrated her 70 years on the British throne.To give an idea of the scale of the operation, Cundy said 36km of barriers had been deployed in central London to help control the crowds.

Beckham waits in queue to pay respects

Former England football captain David Beckham has joined the huge queues in London to file past the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star told Sky News he had joined tens of thousands of people snaking towards Westminster Hall to celebrate Britain’s “special” queen. The queue was temporarily paused yesterday after a park at the end of the line along the River Thames reached capacity, the government said. Beckham, 47, was seen wearing a dark flat cap, suit and tie as he waited in line.