Clean-up teams in London have been praised for working “round the clock” to clear the capital as the period of national mourning following the Queen’s death comes to an end.
A large operation is underway to clear streets and parks in Westminster and Southwark, two boroughs visited by thousands over the 11 days between the Queen’s death and state funeral.
Workers were understood to have donned black bows as a mark of respect on Tuesday as they cleared away rubbish and sand that was laid down for horses involved in the processions.
Westminster City Council praised the “excellent” teams who have been “working round the clock to keep Westminster clean”.
A shout out to the excellent teams who have been working round the clock to keep Westminster clean 👍🧼🧹@CityWestminster @VeoliaUK @theroyalparks https://t.co/LfJtgZmtcJ
— WCC Press Office (@WCCpressoffice) September 20, 2022
More than a million people were estimated to have lined the streets of Westminster and near Buckingham Palace as processions and Royal appearances took place - most notably the procession of the Queen’s coffin from Westminster Hall to Westmister Abbey for the funeral service on Monday.
Meanwhile thousands queued at Southwark Park to see the Queen’s lying in state last week. Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan confirmed on Tuesday that around 250,000 queued in London across four days.
Southwark Council said that, after a brief pause for the funeral, staff would continue to work with Government officials and the events company involved “to make sure that Southwark Park in particular is fully open and returned to its former splendour”.
In Southwark Park alone, many staff worked 24 extra hours over the four days of the lying in state to keep the green space clean, the council said.
An estimated seven tonnes of additional litter was gathered and removed over the same period.
A large clean-up is also happening in Windsor, where the Queen was buried alongside her husband, Prince Philip, at St George’s Chapel.
Crowds turned up outside Windsor Castle to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family on Monday evening and throughout the previous 10 days to lay floral tributes.
Flowers placed in Royal Parks as a tribute to the Queen will be left in place for at least another week.
The Royal Parks earlier said: “Tributes will be left on site until all ceremonial activity has taken place. It is expected that all floral tributes will be removed from park areas from seven to fourteen days after the date of the funeral.”
It added: “Tributes will be monitored throughout and if floral tributes have deteriorated, they will be removed and taken to the Hyde Park nursery for processing to prepare them for composting.”
