(ATR) London's Metropolitan Police are using security plans for Friday's royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton as a major stepping stone towards ensuring a safe Olympics next year.
Around 5,000 officers are involved in the policing operation for the wedding that includes anti-terror tactics. Police said troublemakers attempting to disrupt the procession to Westminster Abbey where the couple are to be married at 11 a.m. BST will be dealt with "robustly".
The security operation, costing an estimated $30 million, centers on the Royal Family and 50 heads of state who are attending the ceremony. Police and protection teams are also involved in ensuring the safety of a host of VIPs.
Prince William is second in line to the British throne after his father, Prince Charles. The ceremony will be broadcast to an estimated global TV audience of two billion.
On Wednesday, a military walk-through of the royal wedding route took place involving some 1,000 members of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Airforce. They will escort the bridal party's horse-drawn carriages and line the route between the abbey and Buckingham Palace. After the nuptials, the couple will head back to the palace where they will appear on the balcony with the Queen.
Commander Bob Broadhurst, who oversaw security for Prince Charles's second wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005, is leading the police effort for the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. He is also heading operational security planning for the 2012 Olympics.
A Met Police spokesman told Around the Rings that Friday's operationwill be similar in size to those conducted for last month's violent trade union protests against public spending cuts and December's student rally over tuition fees.
He said security plans are coming together for the London Olympics, which throws up a more complex set of challenges as they are spread over 17 days of competition.
"The Olympics is another large-scale operation. We are fully on board at the planning stage," he said.
G4S Secure Solutions, the official security services provider for London 2012, will trainand manage the 10,000-strong security workforce that will work closely with the Met Police and local authorities to ensure the safety of athletes, officials, the Olympic Family and spectators.
British Olympic sport is well-represented at the royal wedding.
Key figures in attendance are Prince William's aunt, Princess Anne, who is an IOC member and president of the British Olympic Association and Princess Anne's daughter Zara Phillips, who qualified for Team GB in equestrian for Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 but was unable to compete due to an injury to her horse.
Clive Woodward, director of sport at the British Olympic Association, and his wife, Lady Jayne Woodward are also joining the wedding celebrations. Woodward, the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning coach, is also deputy chef de mission for Team GB at London 2012.
Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, and former England football captain David Beckham are the most prominent sports stars heading to the wedding.
Written by Mark Bisson
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