Dozens of hardy royalists braved the wind and rain on the banks of the Thames in order to be first in line to see the Queen lying in state later this afternoon.
People have travelled from far and wide to visit Westminster Hall, where the late monarch's coffin will be on display until Monday morning - amid warnings of queues of up to 10 miles.
Among them is Brian Flatman, who has spent seven decades ruing a mystery illness that prevented him from seeing the Coronation in 1953, despite securing a prime position to witness the historic event.
The Londoner, now 85, has not forgotten the biting sense of disappointment - and said he was determined to put it right.
Brian told The Mirror of the mystery illness, which he said left him in a coma for two days: "I went with my mate Roy when we were 16, we had a superb position at Hyde Park Corner, we were there at 10.30pm but by midnight I'd fallen seriously ill, I was going delirious.
"All I remember in my delirious state was the wonderful music coming from the TV downstairs.
"This time, 70 years later, I know there's no way I'm going to miss it."
He was one of around 100 ardent royalists to stay overnight before Westminster Hall was opened to the public, arriving at around 6pm.
Brian, when asked about his dedication, responded: "Dedication? What dedication? What about the Queen's dedication? That was hard, hard work."
Meanwhile Mohammed Ismail, 40, spent the night in the queue with his 82-year-old mother Huree, who had insisted that she wanted to pay her respects.
Mohammed, who was 66th in the queue, told The Mirror: "My mum, who is from Gujarat in India, loves the royal family, and I grew up with the Queen, she's been part of my life.
"It's going to be an emotional experience, and that's the reason why we're here."
Ardent devotee Professor Chris Imafidon said he first met the late monarch in 2007 and was struck by the impact she had on students on the Excellence in Education scheme in East London.
"She would ask the children what they wanted to be when they grew up, and she would tell them they could do it," Prof Imadfidon said.
"Even if teachers said they couldn't, they said the Queen said they can. They would go back and work harder, their motivation changed.
"She wasn't just a monarch, she was an angel."
Student Vicky Earl was studying in Belfast when news of the Queen's passing broke last Thursday. She arrived back in London on Monday, having seen the new King during his visit to the Northern Irish capital moments earlier.
West Londoner Vicky, 23, who previously stood on The Mall to see the late monarch on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Jubilee celebrations, said: "I saw King Charles, but I was almost late getting to the airport. I knew I'd come back at some point, I felt left out being in Belfast, but because of my studies I knew I could only take a day or so."
Mum Stacey Melbourne, 30, was with her son George, 13, close to the front of the queue.
"George is autistic, we were watching the service in Edinburgh on TV and my son said 'can we go to Edinburgh to see the Queen?'
"I said no, but I said we could go to London. I haven't had any sleep, and George didn't get to sleep until around 9am."
Mandy Winterbourne, 62, had been in the queue since 4pm on Tuesday. She told The Mirror she hadn't slept, but was glad to be part of a historic moment.
Mandy, who had travelled from Sunningdale in Berkshire, said: "I knew how tough it would be, but I wanted to make the effort. The Queen was like an anchor, we always felt that things would be ok with the Queen at the helm."
She said she had been struck by the friendliness of those around her. "As jolly as we've been, the mood will change when we get over there and see the Queen for the final time.
"I get very emotional reading tributes to her."
Dozens camped for more than 24 hours ahead of the lying-in-state opening to the public.
"It was a nice calm night," said Lisa Simms, who made the journey from Reading on Tuesday. "I've got to know a lot of people.
"I thought the Queen was the greatest monarch ever, she was like a rock to the country."
Lisa, who had seen the Sovereign from a distance in Windsor, said: "I'm going to say thank you and curtsy to the coffin."
Among the friendships to spring up in the queue overnight was that between Sky Haynes, from Portsmouth, and Tracy Sisson, from Portsmouth.
Sky, 43, said: "I do a lot of military support work, I don't care if I queue for three days, I want to say thank you for everything she's done. I'm going to take the knee."
Tracy, 55, who saw the Queen as a child when she visited Hampshire, said: "This here shows the love and admiration and what a shining example she was."
Members of the public will be admitted to Parliament's ancient Westminster Hall from 5pm today, where they can pay their respects to the late Queen.
The coffin will rest of a raised platform, known as a catafalque, which will guarded 24 hours a day.
Visitors will be able to view the Queen's casket until 6.30am on Monday, when the late monarch will be borne to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, with the queue dividing into two streams, one on each side of the coffin.
Mourners can join the queue on the Albert Embankment near Lambeth Bridge and it will snake along the river to Southwark Park in the south-east.
People in the line must keep moving, but they will get wristbands to allow them to leave the queue briefly to buy food from 24-hour cafes, use portable toilets or fill water bottles for free.
There will be more than 1,000 volunteers, stewards, marshals and police officers lining the route at any one time, with support from members of the Red Cross, multi-faith pastors and members of the Samaritans.
