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Queuing to see the Queen lie in state has stopped for “at least” six hours after Southwark Park reached capacity, it was announced on Friday morning.
The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DMCS) announced the move as thousands of mourners queued for hours for a third day to pay their respects.
At approximately 12pm, the gates of Southwark Park were closed to prevent more mourners from joining the queue.
Two mourners queuing to pay their respects to the Queen were allegedly sexually assaulted on Wednesday, a court has heard.
As preparations continue for Monday’s state funeral, King Charles and Camilla, the Queen’s consort, visited Wales for the first time since coming to the throne before returning to London for a vigil at coffin of the queen with her brothers and sister.
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The couple were in Cardiff for a special service on the next leg of a Home Nations tour following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, following trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Later, the king is expected to hold a 15-minute vigil around his mother’s coffin at 7.30pm, along with the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.
It comes a day after the Prince and Princess of Wales visited a sea of flowers left for the Queen at the gates of Sandringham House in Norfolk, where Prince William told a mourner it was difficult to walk behind the coffin on Wednesday from the queen to the state. , and reminded him of the funeral of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
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Pictured: Prince William and Kate meet Commonwealth troops
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Queue: 400 people treated by ambulance crews
Ambulance crews have attended to 435 members of the public along the route of the queue to see the Queen lying in state and surrounding areas over the past two days.
Some 291 people along the queue’s route and around London received medical attention on Wednesday, with 17 requiring hospital treatment, the London Ambulance Service (LAS) said.
Another 144 people were treated Thursday, and 25 people were taken to hospital.
The LAS said most of the incidents they attended were fainting and collapses, leading to head injuries.
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Prince William and Kate meet Commonwealth troops
The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at Pirbright Army Training Center in Surrey to meet Commonwealth troops due to take part in the Queen’s state funeral.
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Two villains allegedly sexually assaulted in line
Two mourners queuing to pay their respects to the Queen were allegedly sexually assaulted by a man who dove into the River Thames to escape, a court has heard.
Adio Adeshine, 19, allegedly exposed himself and pushed mourners from behind as they queued in Victoria Tower Gardens on Wednesday evening after Westminster Hall opened its doors to the public.
More details here.
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King leaves Cardiff
The King and Queen Consort have left Wales after meeting politicians and members of the public.
They will return to London to take part in a vigil at their mother’s coffin at around 7.30pm, alongside their siblings.
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Quotes of the day
King Charles III and the Queen consort arrive at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff for a service of prayer and reflection for the life of Queen Elizabeth II (PA)
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“Her ability to influence, to use soft power – no less significant, no less authoritative – illustrates the wise and careful thinking she brought to her role. Prime ministers found her a trusted confidant. His attention to matters of government, his knowledge of world events and the longevity of his reign gave him an unparalleled perspective and ability to see the distant scene” – Andrew John, Archbishop of Wales, paying tribute to the late Queen during a memorial service in Cardiff attended by King Charles.
“She was an extraordinary role model and an inspiration to many. In all the engagements I have had with her, she showed great compassion, humility and pure warmth. Making myself the Victoria Cross is one of the most beautiful memories that I will hold dear near. my heart” – Color Sergeant Johnson Beharry VC, before joining other recipients of Britain’s highest military honour, in the Queen’s funeral procession.
“The music, I think, has been so important. It’s been so wonderful to create the right atmosphere and to bring out our emotions” – classical singer Katherine Jenkins on the impact of the music chosen for the Queen’s memorial services.
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The King and Queen Consort meet guests in the Banqueting Hall at Cardiff Castle
King Charles III shakes hands with Llywydd (President) Elin Jones as he leaves the Senedd in Cardiff
/ PA
The King and Queen Consort have joined guests in the Banqueting Room at Cardiff Castle for a reception.
The Aberfan Wives were present at the reception and told the PA news agency that the Queen had traveled to the area after the disaster “at the right time”.
Denise Morgan said she believed the King would continue his “bond” with the people of Aberfan.
Aberfan Wives co-star Gloria Davies told PA: “I don’t think they’ve seen another side of her yet, but she does like a bit of a joke.”
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Charles pays tribute to Queen’s Welsh service
The King addresses the Senedd in Cardiff (Andrew Matthews/PA)
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Charles has paid tribute to the Queen’s commitment to Wales on his first visit to the nation as king, saying it “couldn’t be closer to my mother’s heart”.
He told the Welsh Parliament that he was proud of “your great achievements” and also “felt you deeply in times of great pain”.
His address was in response to a motion of condolence in the Senedd, which came after the late monarch was described during a memorial service at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral earlier in the day as a “prominent figure on the stage worldwide”.
The king and queen consort were greeted with gun salutes and cheers from schoolchildren as they arrived in the Welsh capital, the latest stop on their four-nation tour which began after the death of the queen last Thursday.
In his speech to the Senedd, which the former Prince of Wales delivered partly in Welsh, Charles said: “Throughout all the years of his reign, the land of Wales could not be closer from my mother’s heart
“I know she was very proud of your great achievements, although she also felt for you deeply in times of great pain.
“Without a doubt it must be counted as the greatest achievement to belong to a land that inspired so much devotion.
“I am determined to honor this very example in the spirit of the words I always try to live my own life by – Ich dien – I Serve.”
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