Top British rider Mark Cavendish today topped off a successful summer by winning the London-Surrey Cycle Classic, the biggest test event yet to be staged by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG). Image credit: LOCOG / eyevine

The flags of South Africa and Britain fly together on the Mall in London, on February 25, 2010, as Britain prepares to welcome South Africa's president Jacob Zuma on a three-day State visit from March 3 to 5. AFP PHOTO/Ben Stansall

Participants in the London Marathon cross the finish line along The Mall near Buckingham Palace in London on April 13, 2008. Martin Lel's dynamic sprint finish saw the Kenyan win his third London Marathon title in four years in a new course record time of 2 hours 5 minutes and 15 seconds. AFP PHOTO/SHAUN CURRY

The Household Cavalry take part in the Trooping of the Colour Review along the Mall with Buckingham Palace in the background in London, 04 June 2005. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA

US and British flags flying on Pall Mall in front of Buckingham Palace in London yesterday have been removed 15 November 2003 to prevent damages from anti-war protesters, few days before US President George W. Bush's state visit to his coalition partner British Prime Minister Tony Blair. When Bush arrives 18 November in Britain for a state visit he is expected to be greeted with major demonstrations from those unhappy about the military action in Iraq. AFP PHOTO ERIC FEFERBERG.

Picture shows the view from an RAF Lancaster, as it and two Spitfires from RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight pay their last respects to the Queen Mother in a flight over Buckingham Palace, 09 April 2002, while the hearse carrying the coffin of the Queen Mother travels through London along The Mall and out to Windsor. AFP PHOTO PA POOL/SGT JACK PRITCHARD (CROWN COPYRIGHT)