A state occasion. The surrounding area playing host to a large police presence. On foot patrol, in vans and cars, on bikes, stationed at crossings…and ordering coffee. The heavy show of force seemingly outnumbering the mix of tourists and workers darting about the wet streets. A distant band, the quarter hour chime from Parliament Square and a (paradoxically?) sense of calm across the epicentre of activity. Strength in numbers, safety in numbers, serenity in numbers…