PC Keith Palmer funeral: Tens of thousands pay tribute to hero officer killed in Westminster attack

Police officers have been watching over PC Palmer's body all night
Procession: PC Palmer's body is taken into a chapel of rest in Westminster.
EPA
Francesca Gillett10 April 2017

Officers from every police force in the country gathered in London today for the funeral of hero PC Keith Palmer who was killed in the Westminster terror attack.

More than 5,000 police officers lined the streets and gathered at Southwark Cathedral in tribute to their murdered colleague, who was laid to rest at 2pm on Monday.

It is thought an extra 40-50,000 members of the public will flood the streets in a show of support following last month’s rampage.

Husband and father PC Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death by terrorist Khalid Masood while protecting Parliament on Wednesday, March 22.

On Monday morning, police officers from all ends of England and Wales made their way to the capital for what is thought to be the largest ever gathering of police officers in Britain.

Tributes: murdered policeman Keith Palmer pictured with his wife Michelle

Around 50 members of PC Palmer’s heartbroken family including his wife, five-year-old daughter, mother and father, brother and sisters will also attend the service.

The coffin carrying the body of south Londoner PC Palmer, who was a loyal Charlton Athletic fan, was taken to rest in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in Westminster by Met Police escort on Sunday.

PC Keith Palmer Funeral - In pictures

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To lie in the chapel is a rare honour usually given to heads of state and was allowed thanks to special permission given by the Queen.

After the coffin was brought to the chapel, a private service was held with close members of PC Palmer's family and clergy working with the House of Commons and Met Police.

'Last picture': Poignant picture of Keith Palmer thought to be last taken before he was killed.

Police officers watched over PC Palmer's coffin all night, taking shifts in pairs and swapping every hour.

At around 1.30pm on Monday, PC Palmer's body will be taken from Westminster to the cathedral for a full funeral.

Local Bexley councillor James Hunt described a “sense of calm and tranquillity this morning” on Borough High Street as final preparations were made for the funeral at the cathedral on the north end of the road.

The funeral cortege will travel from the Palace of Westminster, along Millbank and across Lambeth Bridge before heading east along Lambeth Palace Road towards Stamford Street.

The route the funeral procession will take.
Metropolitan Police

The procession will then travel along Borough High Street and onto Cathedral Place.

A large swathe of roads were closed at 7am on Monday, including both Southwark Bridge and London Bridge.

Metropolitan Police

Several train companies including Arriva Trains Wales, c2c, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, Gatwick Express and Great Northern are reportedly offering free travel to police staff heading to the funeral.

Transport for London are also offering free bus travel to police officers attending the service.

Police in Scotland lowered their flags to half-mast while branches of the police federation in Essex and Suffolk shared a coach to London for the ceremony.

MPs, police forces and officers across the country including in Bristol, Cumbria and the Midlands took to social media to spread messages of support using the hashtag #StandForKeith.

One of our own: a policeman pays his respects to murdered officer PC Keith Palmer

Messages included pledges reading: “We will never forget you, PC Keith.”

PC Palmer joined the Met Police in 2001 and was based in Bromley before joining the Territorial Support Group in Catford, south east London.

In April last year, he took up a new role with the Met’s unit protecting Parliament – the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation said the response to PC Palmer's death had been "incredible."

Service of Hope at Westminster Abbey - In pictures

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He said: "The public are as appalled by what happened as the police. At times they can be our biggest critics but when something like this happens they come together with us, because they don’t like someone hurting one of their own.

"I can’t recall an occasion like this in regard to the number of officers who will be there, but we must not lose sight of the fact that it is a family funeral.

"It is for Keith’s family and we have made sure we have done everything his wife wants because, first and foremost, it is for her to mourn her husband."

In a statement released in the aftermath of the attack, the family said: “Keith will be remembered as a wonderful dad and husband. A loving son, brother and uncle. A long-time supporter of Charlton FC.

"Dedicated to his job and proud to be a police officer, brave and courageous.

"A friend to everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed. We love him so much.”

Four other innocent people were killed in the atrocity nearly three weeks ago, including Andreea Cristea, 31, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Kurt Cochran, 54, and Aysha Frade, 44.

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