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The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the World Health Organisation says, urging countries to keep up their efforts against the virus that has killed more than six million people

"We are not there yet. But the end is in sight," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

The comment was the most optimistic from the United Nations agency since it declared COVID-19 an international emergency in January 2020 and started describing it as a pandemic three months later.

The virus, which was first detected in China in late 2019, has killed nearly 6.5 million people and infected 606 million, roiling global economies and overwhelming healthcare systems.

The rollout of vaccines and therapies have helped to stem the severity of disease.

Deaths from COVID-19 last week were the lowest since March 2020, the UN agency reported.

Still, countries need to take a hard look at their policies and strengthen them for COVID-19 and future viruses, Tedros said.

He also urged countries to vaccinate 100 per cent of their high-risk groups and keep testing for the virus.

The WHO warned of the possibility of future waves of the virus and said countries need to maintain adequate supplies of medical equipment and healthcare workers.

"We expect there to be future waves of infections, potentially at different time points throughout the world caused by different subvariants of Omicron or even different variants of concern," WHO's senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said.

With more than one million deaths this year alone, the pandemic remains an emergency globally and within most countries.

"The COVID-19 summer wave, driven by Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, showed that the pandemic is not yet over as the virus continues to circulate in Europe and beyond," a European Commission spokesperson said.

The WHO's next meeting of experts to decide whether the pandemic still represents a public health emergency of international concern is due in October, a WHO spokesperson said.

"It's probably fair to say most of the world is moving beyond the emergency phase of the pandemic response," said Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University.

Governments are now looking at how best to manage COVID-19 as part of their routine healthcare and surveillance, he said.

© RAW 2022

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General David Hurley, their partners and 10 everyday Australians are set to begin a trip to the United Kingdom for the Queen's funeral.

Joining other world leaders due to descend on the British capital for the commemorations, Mr Albanese will pay respects to the late monarch at a number of official functions.

Australia is providing travel support to officials and heads of state from Commonwealth nations in the Pacific Islands including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Samoa.

While in London, Mr Albanese is expected to view the Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall and sign the official book of condolences.

Alongside his counterparts from other Commonwealth nations, the prime minister will also meet the King at Buckingham Palace.

A statement from Government House said the governor-general and Mrs Hurley had spoken by phone with the king on Wednesday evening and expressed the condolences of Australians at the passing of the Queen.

"He expressed the well-wishes of the Australian people to The King and His Majesty reflected on his admiration and affection for the people of Australia," the statement said.

Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott and racehorse trainer Chris Waller are part of the group of 10 representatives travelling with the prime minister.

On Wednesday it was confirmed 40 Australian defence personnel would also attend the funeral, with a number marching in the procession.

The Queen held a number of defence titles including colonel-in-chief of the Royal Australian Engineers, Royal Australian Infantry, Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.

Meanwhile, more than 21,000 Australians have signed an online condolence book on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

Physical books are also available to sign at Parliament House and Government House in Canberra as well as official residences in other states and territories.

When the prime minister returns to Australia next week, a day of mourning will mark the life and service of the late monarch.

A national memorial service in Canberra will be attended by all state and territory leaders.

© AAP 2022

King Charles, his sons Princes William and Harry and other senior royals have joined a solemn procession taking Queen Elizabeth's coffin as the late monarch made her final journey from Buckingham Palace.

Huge crowds gathered in central London to witness the Queen being taken from the palace to parliament as artillery guns fired salutes and Big Ben tolled, the latest in a series of poignant ceremonies as the United Kingdom mourns the Queen who died last week aged 96 after seven decades on the throne.

Lying on a gun carriage, covered by the Royal Standard flag and with the Imperial State Crown placed on a cushion on top alongside a wreath of flowers, the coffin bearing Elizabeth's body was taken in a slow, sombre procession from her London home to Westminster Hall.

There it will lie in state for four days.

Walking directly behind were Charles and his siblings, Anne, Andrew and Edward.

In a group that followed were the King's sons Princes William and Harry, a doleful scene reminiscent of when, as boys 25 years ago, they followed the casket of their mother Princess Diana when it was taken on a similar procession through central London.

It was also a symbolic show of unity as William, 40, now the Prince of Wales, and Harry, 37, the Duke of Sussex, are now said to be barely be on speaking terms after a bitter falling out in the last couple of years.

"It was very moving, seeing the family. It was a powerful show of unity," said Jenny Frame, 54, who waited for more than four hours to see the procession.

"I think it's the very best of British and ... very fitting for her."

A military band playing funeral marches and soldiers in scarlet uniforms led the cortege, with the gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, as it moved slowly through central London, where many roads were closed to traffic.

Guns fired every minute at Hyde Park while parliament's famous Big Ben bell also rang at 60-second intervals.

The crowds stood in a hushed silence as they watched the procession but then broke into spontaneous applause when it passed.

Some threw flowers.

Other senior royals including Charles' wife Camilla, now the Queen Consort, Kate, William's wife and now Princess of Wales, and Harry's wife Meghan travelled by car.

When the procession reached Westminster Hall, a medieval building with origins dating back to 1097 and the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster that houses the UK parliament, the coffin was carried inside by soldiers from the Grenadier Guards and placed on a catafalque surrounded by candles.

A short service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, followed.

Later the public will be allowed to file by in a constant stream, 24-hours a day, during four days of lying in state that will continue until the morning of the funeral on September 19.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Elizabeth had three keys roles in her life: head of the family, head of the nation and head of state.

Wednesday marked the moment the coffin passed from the family to the state.

"I don't think we'll see anything like that again ever, or a Queen like that again," said Paul Wiltshire, 65, among the crowd for the procession.

"An end of an era."

People started waiting in line late on Tuesday, sleeping on the street in the rain, to be one of the first to file past the coffin, and already a queue more than a mile long has sprung up.

"We didn't even think about it," said Glyn Norris, 63, adding a bit of rain would not deter her.

"That was my Queen."

Among those gathered, some were there to represent elderly parents, others to witness history and many to thank a woman who, having ascended the throne in 1952, was still holding official government meetings just two days before she died.

The government has warned the queue could stretch for up to 16 kilometres along the southern bank of the River Thames, winding past landmarks such as the giant London Eye ferris wheel and a reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe theatre.

Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said some people might have to stand in line for as long as 30 hours in order to file past the coffin before Monday's funeral.

"She's an icon of icons," mourner Chris Imafidon said.

"I must at least endure this camping out of respect."

Speaking to people in the queue, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, quipped: "We are honouring two great British traditions, loving the Queen and loving a queue."

As many as 750,000 mourners are expected to walk through Westminster Hall to pay their final respects.

© RAW 2022