Thousands queue for ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth
- The lying-in-state of the queen’s coffin will run for four days ahead of her funeral on Monday. An estimated 400,000 people could view it in the coming days
- Hundreds of world leaders are expected to attend the funeral, including Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan – amid objections from some Conservative MPs
Florence Brearley, five, just had to see Queen Elizabeth.
As soon as she found out that she could view the queen’s coffin lying in state in person, she wanted to go, her mother Rachel Brearley said.
So with her sister Matilda, who turns three on Friday, Florence took a day off from school and the family travelled from Stratford-upon-Avon to join thousands of other ordinary Britons for a chance to say one last goodbye to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who died at the age of 96 last week.
“Over the summer we went to Windsor Castle. It ignited a fascination [by her daughters] with the royal family and the history of how the United Kingdom has been ruled,” Rachel Brearley said. “I think it’s just a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s completely surreal that she’s died.”
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Mourners may face 8km queue, 20-hour wait to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth in London
A queue of thousands of people snaked more than 3km (2 miles) past the London Eye and the Tate Modern museum along the south bank of the Thames at 7am BST (2pm HKT) on Thursday, the first full day that the public could view the queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall.
Three hours later, the queue stretched nearly 5km and it could grow bigger over the coming days as authorities have prepared for a queue as long as 16km. About 500 portable toilets have been set up along the route and businesses beside the river are staying open extra hours to accommodate the crowds.