Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is one of the largest ever gatherings of world leaders

telegraph.co.uk: Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is one of the largest ever gatherings of world leaders.

More than 500 foreign heads of state, monarchs and dignitaries descended on Westminster Abbey to honour the second-longest reigning monarch in world history.

The guest list included more than 20 Kings and Queens from 12 reigning royal houses including the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium, two Sultans and the Emperor of Japan.

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, and Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, were among more than 40 heads of state from Commonwealth countries.

Joe Biden, the US president, and Emmanuel Macron, the French president, were there along with almost 50 other international heads of state and government.

The arrival of world leaders and other dignitaries from 175 countries has led to the biggest security operation that the UK has ever seen.

Metropolitan Police officers walk in formation down The Mall ahead of the funeral CREDIT: Dan Kitwood/ Getty Images Europe

Stuart Cundy, the Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner, said “nothing can compare” to the “hugely complex” task, describing it as the “largest policing operation” in the Met’s history.

Early on Monday morning, police officers formed a ring of security, blocking off streets surrounding the Royal Hospital Chelsea where foreign heads of state gathered to be transported in buses to Westminster Abbey.

The home of the Chelsea pensioners was cut off to the public by uniformed officers and security barriers ahead of arrival of dignitaries including Ms Ardern and Wang Qishan, the Chinese vice-president and Mr Albanese.

But there were rows about a two-tier system after Mr Biden and Mr Macron were among the world leaders given special dispensation to travel to Westminster Abbey in their own cars.

Exceptions were said to have been made because of the special security arrangements required for the leaders.

Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden (centre) arrive at Westminster Abbey CREDIT: Phil Noble/ Pool Reuters

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral is the largest gathering of heads of state since the memorial service for Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, in December 2013.

That service saw around 500 dignitaries from around 190 countries descend on Johannesburg, including 120 heads of state and government and 12 royal families.

The late Queen, who was 87 when Mr Mandela died, sent then-Prince Charles in her place amid concerns over security and the length of the flight.

Other major gatherings of world leaders were seen at the funeral of John F. Kennedy in 1963, which drew 220 foreign dignitaries from 92 foreign nations, and that of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Heads of state or a representative at an ambassadorial level from any country with which the UK has full diplomatic relations were invited to the funeral.

Invitations were not sent to Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of Ukraine while Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Myanmar’s military junta and Syria’s Bashar Assad were also excluded.