The British government on Saturday urged people not to travel to join the queue to pass Queen Elizabeth’s coffin, as high demand prompted authorities to initially warn that people might have to queue at least 24 hours to see the late monarch lying. State at Westminster Hall in London.
Tens of thousands of people have already filed past the coffin in a steady, solemn stream, queuing for hours through the darkness and cold to pay their respects to Britain’s longest-serving monarch, a testament to the ‘affection with which he had her.
On Saturday, authorities warned that mourners arriving could face a 24-hour wait. This number was later revised to 16 hours. The culture department said it would pause entry to the Southwark Park queue if demand got too high, adding at 1am local time: “Please do not travel.”
Overnight, volunteers handed out blankets and cups of tea to people in the queue as the temperature dropped to 6C. Later in the day, King Charles III and his son Prince William greeted people in the formation.
King Charles III greets members of the public lined up on London’s South Bank near the River Thames on Saturday as they wait to see Queen Elizabeth II’s casket in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. (Aaron Chown/Press Association/The Associated Press)
The tide of people wanting to say goodbye to the Queen has grown steadily since the public was first admitted to the hall on Wednesday. On Friday, authorities temporarily stopped letting more visitors join the end of the line, which winds around Southwark Park about five miles from Parliament.
The Queen’s death on September 8 at her summer estate in the Scottish Highlands has sparked an outpouring of emotion across the country and 10 days of highly choreographed events.
Silent clock
After resting in the Scottish capital for 24 hours, the coffin was flown south to London, where tens of thousands of people packed a normally busy road in torrential rain to view the flag-draped coffin which was driven to Buckingham Palace.
On Friday night, King Charles joined his three siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward, in a silent vigil at the coffin as his eight children, including William and Harry, will form their own ceremonial guard on Saturday later.
Like many, Sarah Boniface, a 60-year-old estate agent, was tearful and emotional as she left Westminster Hall on Friday night after standing for 14 hours, having watched the new king hold a vigil as he passed by coffin
“It’s been worth every minute. Every minute,” she said, visibly holding back tears. “I am very lucky to have paid my respects to the Queen and to have seen our new King.”
For retiree Hasmukh Vara, 62, his decision to stand for 13 hours to observe the lie in state reflected his desire to thank the late monarch – and Britain – after he moved to the country from Kenya in the 1970s.
Emerging from the brightly lit Great Hall in the cool Friday night darkness by the River Thames, he described feeling “very, very high”.
“We came as refugees to this country,” he told Reuters. “For my whole life, I’m indebted to her because she gave us a home. It’s something we’ll never, ever forget. It’s very important to me and my family.”
Nearly 100 presidents will attend the funeral
The Queen’s children have described being overwhelmed by the reaction to their mother’s death.
Members of the public passed by as King Charles III, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex hold a vigil by the coffin of their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster in London on Friday. (Yui Mok/The Associated Press)
Monday’s state funeral, which will be attended by nearly 100 presidents and heads of government, including those from Canada, the United States, France, Australia, Japan and Jamaica, is likely to be one of the most important ceremonial events ever ‘have ever celebrated in Great Britain.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern walked past the coffin on Friday, one of the first leaders to arrive. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney described the gathering in central London as “this huge, diverse gathering of people from all over the world.”
The public spend the night queuing in state for Queen Elizabeth II in London on Friday. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)
On Saturday, King Charles will meet with the prime ministers of the other 14 countries where he is head of state. He will also meet with emergency services workers who are helping to organize the funeral.
Later, the focus will shift to the younger royals and their vigilance.
William, the heir to the throne, and his brother Harry, who have been estranged in recent years after Harry moved to the United States, will stand guard at the coffin in military uniform.
2 brothers will be joined by their cousins
Harry served two tours of duty with the British Army in Afghanistan but has so far appeared in processions in morning dress after losing his honorary military titles when he retired from public royal duties.
The vigil will take place in the oak casket, which is raised on a catafalque draped in purple, surrounded by the Royal Standard and with the bejeweled imperial crown of the State placed on top.
The two brothers will be joined by their cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, children of Princess Anne; Princesses Beatrice and Eugenia, children of Prince Andrew; and Louise and James, Prince Edward’s children.
Authorities said the line was briefly halted Friday night when someone tried to approach the casket on its platform.
Police said a man was arrested and detained for an offense under the Public Order Act.
LOOK | Armed forces and royal family prepare for Queen’s funeral:
The armed forces, the royal family prepare for the funeral of the queen
Armed forces from Commonwealth nations met with members of the royal family ahead of the Queen’s funeral on Monday. Meanwhile, the line of mourners waiting to pay their respects before the funeral continues to grow.