Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral service has begun at the coronation church of Westminster Abbey in London.
Chancellor David Hoyle opened the ceremony with words of warning to the Queen.
– We remember a lifelong sense of duty with admiration, he said.
– With affection, we remember his love for his family and his commitment to the cause he holds dear, he continued.
– Now, in silence, let our hearts and minds remember our many reasons to be grateful, adds Doyle.
2000 participate
Wrapped in the British royal flag, and adorned with a crown and scepter, the Queen’s coffin is carried by eight guards to the altar.
2,000 people from around the world attended the funeral. From the altar, the Prime Minister of Great Britain reads Bible verses.
The ceremony is expected to last about an hour. Ended with a moment of silence for two minutes.
READ VERSE: British Prime Minister Liz Truss reads the Bible during a funeral. Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble/Swimming pool
See live images from the cemetery at the top of the story.
After the ceremony, the coffin will be taken to the Chapel of St. George at Windsor, where a more private ceremony will be held.
The Queen is buried there with her late husband, Prince Philip.
COFFIN: The Queen’s coffin is carried to the church by eight guards. Photo: PHIL NOBLE/Reuters
Big security force
More than 10,000 police officers served in London during the funeral, and security operations will be the largest ever.
Those who lead security operations have a huge task ahead of them. Royal families and heads of government from around the world have traveled to London on the occasion of the funeral, including US President Joe Biden.
Both schools, shops and several other workplaces in the UK are closed.
LARGE FORCES: More than 10,000 police officers worked for security in London during the funeral. Photo: Sebastien Bozon / AFP / NTB
As many as four billion people are expected to attend funerals worldwide, according to BBC.
Over the past few days, the coffin with the Queen has been on display at Westminster Hall, where people have been standing in line for hours to pay his last respects to the king.
CELEBRATE GUESTS: Royals from across Europe are present at Westminster Abbey. They sat opposite King Charles. Photo: Reuters
Royal couple present
From Norway, King Harald and Queen Sonja were here to bid farewell to the queen.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will also attend the funeral.
Among the guests, 500 heads of state and top politicians have been invited, in addition to royal families from all over the world, wrote BBC.
TRMENNING: King Harald and Queen Sonja attend the funeral. The Queen of England is the third wife of the king. Photo: Heiko Junge/NTB
Russian President Vladimir Putin was among those not invited. There were also no heads of state from Syria, Venezuela, Belarus, Myanmar and Afghanistan, according to the BBC.
North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited to send representatives, but not heads of state.
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