The queue to see the Queen’s coffin lying in state has officially opened.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was handed to the care of the nation for a period of lying in state after her family marched in homage behind her coffin as it was carried to Westminster Hall. Tens of thousands of people gathered to watch the procession in London on Wednesday (September 14).
King Charles III led the royal family as they walked behind the coffin, draped with a Royal Standard, adorned with the Imperial State Crown and pulled on a gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The Queen departed Buckingham Palace, the official residence where she spent so much of her working life, for the last time.
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During the ceremony, which was attended by royal family members including Meghan and Harry and Kate and William, the Queen was taken to West Minister Hall. She will lie in state there until her funeral on Monday (September 19).
Mourners have travelled from far and wide to pay their respects to the late monarch. The government warned that people could have to wait for up to 30 hours to see the Queen lie in state, but the line would will have to close early if it gets too busy.
Joseph Arujo, 18, from Los Angeles, was among those paying his respects to the Queen. He travelled to London from the United States to witness “this moment in history”.
He told the PA news agency: “We don’t really know what’s going to happen with the monarchy in the future and I think it’s really important to be here and witness this moment in history.” Joseph said he lined up for six hours and made friends in the queue, but once he got into the hall it was “a whole other experience just being in front of the Queen and seeing her casket right there”.
Check how long the queue is currently via the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's tracker below.
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