Great & the good

Leaders and royals from all around globe fly in to attend funeral at Abbey

-  JOHN SIDDLE and NIGEL NELSON

WORLD leaders last night began descending on London ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral – amid Britain’s biggest ever security operation.

US president Joe Biden and Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were among the first of more than 100 royals, heads of state and diplomats attending.

Mr Biden landed in the UK on Air Force One with First Lady Jill late yesterday evening.

Plans to meet new PM Liz Truss at Downing Street today were put off until a UN session on Wednesday. But No 10 will host Canada’s Justin Tru deau, Irish leader Micheál Martin and Poland’s Andrzej Duda.

Yesterday Ms Truss met New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at the Government’s Chevening residence.

With two million mourners expected, the funeral is an epic security challenge far surpassing the 2012 Olympics and June’s Platinum Jubilee.