London stands still, as world leaders gather for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral

In what is being referred to as an unprecedented concentration of world leaders in one city, more than 70 heads of state or their representatives have arrived in London for the historic funeral ceremony of the late Queen Elizabeth on Monday.

Over 500 royals and other dignitaries from around the world, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, arrived in London on Sunday for the funeral, along with the heads of state.

Two hours before the 11am service, the world’s leaders will be seated in Westminster Abbey’s south transept.

The funeral ceremony will start at exactly 11.55am, and the city of London will come to a complete stop for a two-minute moment of silence.

The mark of respect “represents the still point of a day which is at once a sumptuous display of royal and military funeral pageantry, an intense security and logistical operation and a vast outpouring of public affection for the late monarch,” the Royal Family said of the ceremony.

The proceedings will include the conclusion of ‘Operation London Bridge’ which began as soon as the Queen’s death was announced on September 8, when she is laid to rest in the royal vault of St George’s Chapel after a private ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The funeral will be televised to a huge television audience and shown to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country on Monday (today), which has been declared a holiday in the UK.

The Queen will then remain in state until early on Monday morning, when her coffin will be taken to the nearby Westminster Abbey for the funeral, which will mark the end of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch’s 10 days of national mourning.

The Queen’s coffin will be driven in a hearse to Windsor after passing through the historic centre of London on a gun carriage following the service.

Following that, Queen Elizabeth II will be buried next to her late husband, Prince Philip, who passed away last year.