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THOUSANDS OF POLICE officers have attended the funeral of Keith Palmer today, the policeman stabbed to death in a terror attack outside the British parliament last month.
Officers lined the cortège route from the Houses of Parliament, where his body lay in rest yesterday in a rare honour normally granted to senior politicians.
The service took place across the River Thames in Southwark Cathedral, with Palmer’s wife and five-year-old daughter in attendance.
Normally bustling streets in central London were at a standstill for the procession, led by the hearse with a floral tribute reading “No 1 Daddy”.
Officers wearing dress uniform with white gloves and medals stood with heads bowed during a two-minute silence at the start of the service.
Some 5,000 officers from around the country took part, along with Cressida Dick, the first female head of London’s Metropolitan Police.
Palmer, aged 48, was killed on 22 March by a 52-year-old convert to Islam, Khalid Masood, as he stood guard outside parliament.
Masood attacked Palmer after he had driven into pedestrians nearby, killing three and fatally injuring a fourth. He was shot dead by an armed officer.
Parliamentary officials have ordered a security review after it was revealed that Palmer was not armed.
In addition, the vehicle entrance gate to parliament which he was guarding was open, as it often is to allow MPs in and out of the building more easily.
Palmer’s body was taken to a chapel inside parliament yesterday, where a private service was held after Queen Elizabeth II granted special dispensation.
Others who have previously been granted the honour include former prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
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London my home, you did us proud today. Rest In Peace Keith Palmer.
Police Officer Keith Palmer had a meaningful and significant life, a life of worth and meaning, a loving and beloved individual who contributed much.
The contrast pf the value and worth of Keith Taylor with the existence of the perpetrator could not be greater.
Very sad when someone dies as part of their job protecting others.
Random side question: does anyone know why it actually takes so long to bury the dead in the UK? Seems normal to be weeks in any case I have seen. Do people like it this way there? I just can’t understand it myself.
It goes back to the industrial revolution when families were dispersed across the country and communications and travel were much slower than today but it has now become tradition.
@Richard: It generally depends on post mortems and any coroner involvement. You can wait weeks for a post mortem in some areas and hospitals won’t release bodies until all due process has been carried out. I prefer it myself rather than the three day Catholic thing. If people have to fly its also cheaper for them than the last minute budget airline shafting. If you are going to use a Church for the funeral that can take time to organise as well as getting a slot in a crematorium meaning a long waiting list. It depends where people die more than anything. If you tried to bury them in three days there people would think you murdered them and were disposing of the evidence.
Thanks for the replies, makes sense. I hadn’t actually thought about the benefit of not trying to organise last/expensive minute travel. I guess the little things can make a big difference in those times of loss.
I have the opposite question:
Why does Ireland have funerals so swiftly – within two days of the death usually?
Even taking into consideration that travel is so much more immediate nowadays it barely enables travellers from the UK and beyond adequate time to organise both domestic situations and travel, in order to arrive on time for said funeral.
All I’ve ever been offered, by way of response to my genuine query is . . .
‘It’s tradition and won’t be changed’.
It actually irks me, an Irish native, whose situation is exactly that which I indicate above. There appears to be no consideration accorded to family members.
A hint of intransigence? I’ve asked myself that on occasion.
@Elizabeth Davenport: it’s due to our tropical climate, I reckon
@Elizabeth Davenport:
Funerals here are routinely delayed to give people time to come back from abroad, in my experience.
@Paul Devlin:
Is the lack of exclamation mark an oversight?!!! :)
@Elizabeth Davenport: Elizabeth funerals are often delayed to let family come home from abroad.
In UK after death you have to get a Death Cert from doctor/hospital which can take few days.
Then once you have the Cert you have to go and Register the Death, which again takes a few days.
Only once you get Cert of Registration of Death can you organise funeral.
Many Undertakers or Crematoriums won’t arrange a funeral until you have that in case there’s a problem.
So few weeks after death is quite normal.
Obviously throw in an autopsy, need for a Coroner etc and you’re really increase the delay before burial.
RIP this brave Police officer, he died a hero and even though it’s small consolation, he was given a heroes funeral.
Shame on radical Islam. A brave Policeman trying to protect others died, but proud.
Naberius and Mick Power:
On addressing this question to a member of clergy with a family connection, who also happens to conduct family funerals, I was rather taken aback by the assertiveness of his response.
Thank you both for your replies. Further ammunition for future discussions.
If I may ask – are you dwellers of the metropolis?
@Paul Devlin:
Have is the lack of exclamation mark an oversight?!!!! :)
Neribus and Mick Power:
On addressing this question to a member of clergy with a family connection, who also happens to conduct family funerals, I was rather taken aback by the assertiveness of his response.
Thank you both for your replies. Further ammunition for future discussions.
Might I enquire if you’re dwellers of the metropolis?
Opposes . . .
Is the lack of exclamation mark an oversight?!!! :)
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