Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral services have started at the coronation church of Westminster Abbey in London.
Provost David Hoyle opened the ceremony with words of remembrance for the Queen.
– We remember his lifelong sense of duty with awe, he said.
– With affection we remember his love for his family and his commitment to a cause he holds dear, he continued.
– Now, in silence, let our hearts and minds remember our many reasons to be grateful, added Doyle.
2000 participated
Wrapped in the British royal flag, and decorated with a crown and scepter, the Queen’s casket was carried by eight guards to the altar.
2,000 people from around the world attended the funeral. From the altar, the British Prime Minister recited Bible verses.
The ceremony is expected to last about an hour. It ended with two minutes of national silence.
READING VERSE: British Prime Minister Liz Truss reads from the Bible during the funeral. Photo: REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
View live images from the funeral at the top of the story.
After the ceremony, the coffin will be taken to St. George in 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
Great security forces
More than 10,000 police officers are on duty in London for the funeral, and the security operation will be the largest yet.
Those in charge of security operations have a big 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.
Schools, shops and some other workplaces in the UK are closed.
HUGE TROOPS: 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 lying on the parade ground at Westminster Hall, where people have queued for hours to pay their last respects to the king.
CELEBRATE GUESTS: Royals from all over Europe descend on Westminster Abbey. They sat opposite King Charles. Photo: Reuters
The royal couple is present
From Norway, King Harald and Queen Sonja were there to say goodbye 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 royalty from around the world, it wrote BBC.
TREMENNING: 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 are also no heads of state from Syria, Venezuela, Belarus, Myanmar and Afghanistan, according to the BBC.
North Korea and Nicaragua were invited to send representatives, but not heads of state.
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