Police officer carried away on stretcher after collapsing during Queen's funeral
A member of the Met police has been taken away on a stretcher after collapsing during the Queen's funeral.
Hundreds of members of the police force have been deployed today, 19 September, as the state funeral takes place at Westminster Abbey, but that number reduced by one when an officer collapsed while on duty.
The officer was carried away on a stretcher by two members of the Royal Navy, but his condition is yet to be confirmed.
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The Queen's funeral is currently underway before a procession from Westminster Abbey will move her coffin to her final resting place at Windsor Castle.
Approximately 2,300 police officers are set to oversee the Queen’s final journey to the castle, where she will be buried at the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
They will be supported by military personnel lining the route from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, with Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK's the Chief of the Defence Staff, explaining that more than 10,000 soldiers, sailors and aviators are involved in the events.
Discussing the planning for the day, he said: "There’s always an element of apprehension, but we have brilliant people that help at every level, some generals that have been planning this for a long time.
“We have warrant officers and non-commissioned officers that that look at the precise execution, and that’s at my level and then all the way down.”
Met police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has expressed high hopes for the Met's response to the Queen's death, explaining the force has been 'preparing for this for many, many years'.
"There are some very diligent and determined people who put a lot of effort into this," he continued. "I have a lot of trust and confidence in the fantastic police officers who are going to support this event. We are going to be putting thousands of officers into this because of the level of security required and the millions of people whom want to pay their respects."
London has been flooded to visitors in the wake of the Queen's passing, with thousands of people queuing to see her coffin in Westminster Hall during the lying-in-state period and gathering to see the processions taking place around her funeral today, 19 September.
Another guard collapsed while the Queen was lying-in-state, taking a tumble as they stood protecting the coffin in Westminster Hall. The officer landed with a thud on the ground as several police rushed to his aid while onlookers continued to file past the coffin.
Emily Brown