The Queen's funeral could be the largest international event the UK has ever held, officials think. The ceremony is expected to be attended by around 500 dignitaries from around the world, including US president Joe Biden, French leader Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand’s premier Jacinda Ardern.
More than 100 civil servants are working shifts on the central operational team handling events related to Queen Elizabeth II's death, with the efforts headed up by the permanent secretary at the Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Sources told the PA news agency: "Planning has been going on for years for this.
"There are people that otherwise might have moved on in their roles that have stayed in their roles because of the privilege that it is to support the planning for this. There were quite a lot of people who worked on this in previous roles, who the moment that we heard the news immediately volunteered to come back."
All those involved in the Civil Service view their part in the proceedings as a "genuine honour", they said. The sources described the Queen’s funeral as "the largest international event that the UK has hosted in decades, possibly ever".
One of the biggest UK television audiences in decades is predicted to tune in the funeral, which is taking place at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony will start at 11am on Monday, September 19.
