Following delays in the delivery of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, Westminster Hall saw a doubled queue of mourners.
Yesterday morning, officials directed queuers to form two columns along the coffin of the Queen, with Imperial Crown decorations, so there are twice as many people who can offer their condolences.
The huge volume of people wanting to pay their final respects to Her Majesty led to the decision to double the rate of flow, ensuring as many who wished to pay their respects were able.
Thousands of people are standing in nine-hour queue from Westminster stretching nearly five miles eastwards along the Thames to Southwark Park.
The queue had further snaked even further through Southward Park, which a source said is the ‘end of the queue’, as of around 1am this morning according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s queue tracker.
Many mourners will stand alongside the Queen as she lies-in-state until Monday’s funeral. Some bow in respect and others stop to pray, or take a moment for reflection.
SINGLE LINES : On Wednesday evening, the vigil will begin around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
DOUBLE LIST: Yesterday’s public was divided into four lines, two each side of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin. This was done to increase the flow of mourners following concerns that too many people would not be able to attend her funeral.
Pictures from above of the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall
The Queen-in-state queue is currently at 4.9 miles in length, stretching from Westminster to Southwark Park. It will take approximately nine hours to get to the front.
Yesterday morning, just after 5am, an official from Westminster Hall directed mourners in four lines. There were two on each side of the coffin.
As the guards can move around the coffin, the queue for Elizabeth II tributes is stopped at every twenty minutes.
A former top official said that it was believed delays would make it impossible for 100,000 people to get into the hall prior to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. This is in contrast to 350,000 who are expected to attend.
Well-wishers were yesterday warned that they must join the queue by 12.30am on Sunday in order to see the coffin, sources have today claimed. On Monday, when the funeral is scheduled to take place, the Queen will be in her state from 6.30am.
Lines to bid farewell to Queen Victoria snake through Bermondsey, south London
With people coming from all parts of the world to London, it is possible that more than 350,000 will be making the trip.
Sources in Parliament also confirmed that they stopped six people who tried to bring their pet animals into Westminster Hall.
According to today’s claims, the pet owners may have tried hiding their dogs underneath their clothing as they went into the mourning zone. Some others have seen their children bringing their pets to the Queen’s stateroom.
Photographs show paramedics treating tired well-wishers. Some have waited all day to be able to view the Queen in her state.
This happens after the soldier who was guarding the coffin fell during his duty. As he made his way towards the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, one mourner could be seen falling.
More than 1.7 million people visited YouTube to check out the Government’s live YouTube queue tracker. This shows where people are at the end of their line waiting to get into Westminster Hall for the Queen’s coffin.
Yesterday, paramedics were called (pictured yesterday), while people waited in line for nine hours to view the coffin of the Queen in Westminster Hall.
This morning’s mourners had waited for nearly nine hours in order to meet the Queen.
The procession carrying Queen Elizabeth’s coffin from Buckingham Palace into Westminster Hall reached its destination at 3 pm yesterday
According to a source, Southwark Park was designated the “end of the line”. To facilitate a zig-zag queueing system, there were barriers.
The queue at the park’s end can be expected to wait as long as 30 hours to view the Queen.
“We need to set a threshold at which we can turn people away.
“The time taken to get there will be affected by the traffic and volume. Around 2,000 people per hour are currently allowed into Westminster Hall at any given moment.
The time is currently either Saturday night very late or Sunday morning extremely early. However, the Metropolitan Police will make the final decision.
“We have been planning for this crowd and anticipating that they would be here…just not so soon.”
Pesach Neussbaum, who flew to the UK from Montreal, Canada, on Wednesday, described seeing the Queen’s coffin this evening as a ‘very special and extraordinary’ experience after queuing for nearly six hours.
He explained that he was thinking about the fact that, even though it was too far to walk to Westminster, he was still giving his last respects.
“I continued on for five-and-a half hours, and it made me happy to finally see the end. Shari (my wife) is a huge fan of Queen Elizabeth. Shari is currently back in Canada. It was obvious to me that my wife would be here if I continued.
“The Queen inspires me and the whole world.
Stephen Swallow, 64-year-old, was proudly sporting his medals on his jacket when he joined the queue last night, at 10pm.
He arrived at Westminster Hall only to witness the Queen being laid in state after he had travelled yesterday from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
The Queen’s Majesty is seen here with the Mourners, who have waited for nearly nine hours in line to view her.
As Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin is in place inside Palace of Westminster, members of the public wait to be buried.
He explained that it was exhausting, and my legs almost buckled at one point. However, he felt it was his duty to get here.
“I purchased a small chair because my legs were getting really tired. I was able to talk to other people about The Queen and The Royals and just barely made it through the rest of the day.
“I was so relieved to see that I had gotten out of Southwark Tube Station last night. I joined the line and stayed the whole night with the exact same group.
“When I finally reached the hall it was extremely quick and very sad. Not only did I come to see myself, but also for my sons, who were in the military as well and couldn’t be there.
“I bow my head as I approached the coffin and say thank you to The Queen for her years of service. Now I’m headed home. It was a tiring and long night. I am exhausted.