Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Matthew Young & Amy-Clare Martin & Antony Thrower

Brits queue three miles through the night as mourners line up to pay respects to Queen

Thousands of people continued to queue throughout the night in London to pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in state.

Members of the public are able to file past and say goodbye to the monarch 24 hours a day until her funeral next Monday.

Yesterday the first mourners were allowed into Westminster Hall with people sleeping rough overnight in the pouring rain to be admitted.

Last night the queue measured around three miles at one point before shortening to Blackfriars Bridge - around 1.5miles from the Queen’s current resting place.

The queue has a maximum length of five miles (via REUTERS)

Among the first to join the queue was Nina Kristofferson, 40, from north London, who joined at 5am on Tuesday.

She said: “It was really emotional, just having a moment to say thank you for everything - 70 years of service.

Several people were overwhelmed with emotion when they entered the hall (BBC News)
Several people had been queuing all night (BBC News)

“It really is breath-taking. I was tearful. It was an honour just to stand there and take it all in. To give thanks and give a little curtsy to say thank you.

“I couldn’t wish for a more fitting opportunity to say goodbye. I’m really grateful. She will always be in our hearts.

Members of the public queue near to Tower Bridge in London (PA)

“It was overwhelming, you want to stop and take pictures but it’s right that you don’t - that you savour the atmosphere and savour the moment.

“It was priceless. I had to be here.”

The first mourners arriving at Westminster Hall (via REUTERS)

Delroy Morrison, 61, from Wembley and fourth in the queue added: “[The wait] was a piece of cake considering the 70 years the Queen spent looking after us.

“It was a bit emotional, I took my hat off and said ‘thank you my Queen, you have done a great job as you promised’.

A mourner cannot hold back the tears after viewing the Queen's coffin (George Cracknell Wright/LNP)

“I bowed and then we walked past.”

Metropolitan Police officers, volunteers and stewards are managing the queue while toilets and water fountains are provided at various points along the route.

A man claps in appreciation of the monarch (BBC News)
Several people were seen with red eyes as they walked past the coffin (BBC News)

Overnight a Royal guard fainted and fell off the podium where he was protecting the Queen's coffin, as police rushed to help him after he crashed to the ground.

Soldiers marched with the coffin from Buckingham Palace on Wednesday but for one of the guards at Westminster Hall the strain appeared to be too much as he suddenly fainted.

People pass by the Queen, lying in state in Westminster Hall (BBC)

There were gasps from mourners as he fell to the ground which was caught in a video.

Shocked viewers also took to social media with one tweeting: "He must've been so overwhelmed with what was happening."

A red-eyed mourner is emotional after leaving Westminster Hall (George Cracknell Wright/LNP)
Members of the public queue in Westminster (PA)

Another said: "Bless him - just happened to tune in; saw he was a bit wobbly and feared he'd faint.

“Hope he's ok."

Solemn members of the public near the end of the queue as they walk along the South Bank (AFP via Getty Images)

On Wednesday afternoon, the King had led the royal family in a possession behind the Queen’s coffin during a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

Today he will have a private day of reflection and is not expected to attend any public events.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.