PC Keith Palmer remembered in tear-jerking eulogy read by a friend and colleague
HERO PC Keith Palmer's "blue lamp will shine forever" a friend and colleague told the thousands who gathered to pay their respects today.
Officers lined the streets of London this lunchtime as the city fell silent to mark the sacrifice of their heroic brother in blue, PC Palmer.
Joined by crowds of Londoners, who PC Palmer gave his life to protect, the tragic spectacle took over a huge area of the capital in an "unprecedented" scale.
Flags at police stations across the UK flew at half mast today in memory of the officer, as police on horseback joined the marching officers in Southwark.
Helicopters hovered overhead as the procession made its way towards London Bridge, as armed police with sniffer dogs stood watch while the bells of Southwark Cathedral chimed.
A hearse carrying the heroic officer was adorned with floral messages including "Uncle Keith" and "No1 Daddy", while PC Palmer's wife and child followed behind.
Two police helicopters flew over the funeral procession and performed a "bow" movement to honour the fallen officer.
One woman was heard by a Sun Online reporter explaining to her children as they waited for the funeral cortege: "They're all here for a particularly brave man who died helping lots of people."
The hearse, adorned with red and white flowers - the colour of PC Palmer's beloved Charlton Athletic - was led to the church by officers on black horses.
His heartbroken family followed in black people carriers as the crowd bowed their heads in respect and London fell silent to remember the heroic officer.
After PC Palmer's coffin was carried into the cathedral, officers stood deep in thought as the start of the service was played on loud speakers.
During the service PC Palmer's friend and colleague Chief Inspector Neil Sawyer told those gathered he had joined the force after serving as a Bombardier in the Army Reserve.
He said PC Palmer joined because he "wanted to make London a safer and better place for all".
He concluded his tribute: "As police officers, we go to work every day knowing that we may be called upon to put our own lives in danger. And many do. And on Wednesday 22nd March 2017, Police Constable Keith Palmer did just that to protect life and to protect Parliament - and he did not waver - he stood firm and made that ultimate sacrifice in doing his duty. A hero to us all. We are all very proud of him.
"During Keith's policing service he met and worked alongside many officers and left a positive impression on all. And we will all miss him greatly. I know this because over the last couple of weeks so many of these colleagues and friends have told me as much.
"I will close with these thoughts from myself, Keith's colleagues and friends - his spirit will never leave us and he will remain an inspiration to us all. Keith's blue lamp will shine bright forever. And on behalf of us all we say thank you - Keith made a difference and we will not forget."
The lines of police did not move as they stayed stoic and still, listening to the service which focused on PC Palmer's excellent police work, and how he ran towards danger when others might run away.
Officers wept as they listened to the tragic PC's last moments. Tears fell from bowed heads as they heard: "Keith was doing his duty then what happened, happened.
"Keith's instinct was to run towards the assailant. He lay down his life for his friends.
"In a split second, he made a decision not to plead but to confront and it cost him everything and none of us will be the same again."
Thousands had lined the streets clutching flowers and pictures to pay their respects to the fallen cop.
Mum-of-one Lisa Wellhurst, 31, from Wandsworth, came to pay her respects to PC Palmer today with three-year old son Henry.
She said: "My son loves police officers because his daddy is one so it felt right to bring him here to pay tribute to a true hero.
"My husband has worked hard to become a policeman and we're all so proud.
"You take it for granted when you're married to an officer and don't believe anything like this will ever happen.
"Thanks to Keith's bravery, a few more officers are still alive and their families still have a husband or dad coming home to them.
"He made the ultimate sacrifice and I'm glad we made it here today to show our support to his family and colleagues."
Ahead of the service, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said of PC Palmer: "He was a lovely man, we all saw him every day when we went into the gates of Parliament.
"He was there with a smile, with a wave, always talking to tourists, always talking to visitors, always unbelievably polite and courteous - a real, good public servant of the people in Parliament.
"He died defending our Parliament."
John Louthrey, 62, a retired chef and bell ringer at St Leonard's church, Streatham, south London, said he had come to Borough High Street before dawn to pay his respects.
Draped in a Union flag and holding a sign, he said: "I'm here to pay my respects to Keith Palmer and the officers of the Metropolitan Police.
"We pray for the police to keep us safe and we pray that they are kept safe and we pray for Keith Palmer's family."
Teacher John De Souza, 27, from Wimbledon, south west London, said: "As a Londoner I think it's right for me to be here today to pay my respects to the man who gave his life protecting us.
"Anyone of us could have been killed that day but PC Palmer stopped so many more deaths by doing his job."
Ann Harvey, 63, from Hampstead, north London, said: "Being here today is important - it shows the world that London will not be swayed or give into terrorists.
"A brave man died that day and today thousands have come to pay respect in the true spirit if our country.
"London is brave and I know Keith died in the line of duty but anyone who gets on a tube everyday and lives their life as normal are also brave.
"I'm just glad he is being given the funeral he deserves."
One, Natalie Buck, 32, from Kent, said: "It was important for me to be here today as my dad was a police officer.
"Thankfully he was never killed in the line of duty but I remember every time he was late home by even ten minutes, my mum would panic that she was never going to see him again.
"My heart dropped when I heard Keith had been killed that day - no family no matter what the job is should have to lose someone in such a horrific way."
Police officers wiped away tears as Dean of Southwark The Very Reverend Andrew Nunn asked those gathered to pay tribute to PC Palmer's wife and daughter.
Some of the well wishers joined in as the first hymn, I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, was played out of the loud speakers, and sung again as the service neared the end and God Save The Queen was played.
In similar emotional scenes to the funerals of PC Nicola Hughes and PC Fiona Bone, who were killed while on duty for Greater Manchester Police, huge numbers of police line the streets of London today.
To pay respect to those officers in 2012 offices and shops emptied and buildings fell silent as the general public joined the police in mourning their loss.
Today more than 5,000 police officers in crisp dark uniforms honoured their fallen colleague PC Palmer, as he was carried on his final journey through the large crowds spread over the huge funeral cortege procession route.
Forces up and down the country urged off-duty officers to attend and “#StandWithKeith”.
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As the hearse containing the coffin of PC Palmer left Westminster at 1.30pm to drive to Southwark Cathedral applause rang out in Parliament Square.
And a round of applause again broke out as the emotional service concluded and the officer's coffin was driven away from the cathedral.
Officers wearing white gloves saluted PC Palmer and his family as he was taken to his final resting place at a private cremation.
The city then fell eerily silent as crowds of colleagues and mourners bowed their heads for a final time in contemplation.
The service last just over an hour as the Mayor of London and Home Secretary Amber Rudd were among those paying their respects.
Security was tight as roads were closed and safety blockades set up ahead of the funeral - as the city centre halted and visibly emotional cops arrived in the area where the service will be held.
A row of police lined the route where the officer's coffin was brought up to the cathedral, as scores marched up Borough High Street near the iconic Shard.
Forces around the country fell silent as a mark of respect after his body travelled along 2.6 miles of the usually crowded and busy streets of the capital.
Chief Constable Sara Thornton, head of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said the scale of the funeral was unprecedented as officers hold a two-minutes' silence at 2pm.
She told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire Show: "I don't think we will have ever seen a police funeral of this size.
"Officers from all over the country are coming to London to join their Metropolitan Police colleagues to line the route."
PC Palmer was stabbed to death by Khalid Masood on the cobbled forecourt of the Palace of Westminster last month in an attack in the heart of London.
The 48-year-old was unarmed when the killer rampaged his way into Parliament and attacked him.
Police officers started to arrive at Southwark Cathedral hours ahead of the afternoon's service.
Dressed in full uniform, they will pay their respects to one of their own who died on the job.
This morning PC Palmer's name was added to the Roll of Honour & Remembrance, along with PC Gareth Browning, who died three years ago when he was hit by a stolen car while on duty.
Steve Lloyd, of the Police Roll of Honour Trust, said: "It is right that the men and women of the British police service who have paid the ultimate price in the service of this county be remembered here at the national memorial on this record of historical importance.
"We hope that knowing their loved one's name are to be forever remembered will bring some small comfort to the families of the fallen officers."
The Queen gave permission for PC Palmer's body to rest in Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft
overnight ahead of the funeral, an honour normally reserved for heads of state.
Full service funerals are normally only held when a police officer or member of staff dies while they are carrying out their duty, Scotland Yard said.
Thousands of officers came from across the country to line the streets around the cathedral as train companies offered police officers free travel to and from the funeral.
Four other people were killed and dozens of others injured in the 82-second atrocity on Wednesday March 22, which ended with Masood being shot dead.
Andreea Cristea, 31, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Kurt Cochran, 54, and Aysha Frade, 44, also died after he ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.
Cressida Dick's tenure at the head of Scotland Yard began today when she formally took charge of the country's largest police force.
Her first major public engagement was to attend PC Palmer's funeral this afternoon.
Speaking when her official starting date was announced, Ms Dick said: "Terrorism is just one of the challenges we face.
"Alongside the mayor and every single one of our officers and staff, I will work tirelessly to keep our city safe."
A SECTION OF THE EULOGY TO PC KEITH PALMER, READ BY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE CHIEF INSPECTOR NEIL SAWYER
As police officers, we go to work every day knowing that we may be called upon to put our own lives in danger. And many do. And on Wednesday 22nd March 2017, Police Constable Keith Palmer did just that to protect life and to protect Parliament - and he did not waver - he stood firm and made that ultimate sacrifice in doing his duty. A hero to us all. We are all very proud of him.
Keith's final shoulder number, 2185SO, is now retired.
During Keith's policing service he met and worked alongside many officers and left a positive impression on all. And we will all miss him greatly. I know this because over the last couple of weeks so many of these colleagues and friends have told me as much.
I will close with these thoughts from myself, Keith's colleagues and friends - his spirit will never leave us and he will remain an inspiration to us all. Keith's blue lamp will shine bright forever. And on behalf of us all we say thank you - Keith made a difference and we will not forget.