A million mourners are expected to queue to visit the Queen’s coffin over the four days of lying in state.
Those wishing to pay their respects to Her Majesty at the Palace of Westminster in London can join 24-hour lines from Wednesday at 5pm until 6.30am on Monday September 19.
But Government and security officials are preparing for unprecedented crowds. Last night they even warned visitors they might have to queue overnight.
Visitors will need to go through airport-style security checks and are only permitted to bring one small bag with them.
There will be step-free access available but organisers advised mourners to consider leaving small children with relatives, given the expected queues.
An official explained: “You will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving.
“Large crowds are expected, and there are likely to be delays on public transport and road closures around the area. You should check ahead, plan accordingly and be prepared for long queues.”
The Queen’s closed coffin will rest on a raised platform, called a catafalque, in Westminster Hall, as was the Queen Mother’s in 2002.
It will be draped in the Royal Standard with the orb and sceptre from the Crown Jewels on top.
Each corner of the platform will be guarded around the clock by units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division, or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
Meanwhile, officials in Scotland have prepared for many more thousands to queue to see the coffin when the Queen lies in rest from this evening at St Giles’ Cathedral after spending the night at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the sovereign’s residence in Edinburgh.
Huge crowds yesterday filled the Royal Mile in Edinburgh as people waited for the arrival of the royal procession, delivering the Queen’s coffin from her beloved home Balmoral.
People could be seen standing solemnly as they waited for the convoy, which was led by the hearse carrying the coffin.
Today after meeting officials to receive messages of condolence at Westminster Hall in London, the King and the Queen Consort will return to Scotland to join other Royal Family members in a procession to meet the Queen’s coffin.
The King and the Queen’s three other children, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, accompanied by the Queen Consort and the Countess of Wessex, will attend a public service at 7.20pm before the Queen lies in rest at the cathedral.
Tomorrow evening, Princess Anne will accompany the Queen’s body on a journey by Royal Air Force aircraft from Edinburgh Airport in Scotland, arriving at RAF Northolt in West London.
The Queen’s coffin will then be taken to Buckingham Palace by road, to rest in the Bow Room.
Every stage of the three-day journey will be closely followed by a British public coming to terms with its grief. Ahead of the lying-in-state, a ceremonial procession will take place on Wednesday afternoon.
The Queen’s coffin will go from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster.
The route is via Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard. Hundreds of thousands more will line the streets of the procession, with thousands more watching the spectacle on giant screens in Hyde Park. On Thursday a rehearsal will take place in London for the state funeral procession.
On Friday, King Charles will travel to Wales to receive a motion of condolence at the Welsh parliament and to attend a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
On Sunday the King will hold an audience with the Prime Minister before an evening reception for funeral guests, including prime ministers from the realms, heads of state and other dignitaries.
On Monday, September 19, at 11am, Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen’s coffin will be conveyed to the abbey on a gun carriage pulled along by soldiers using ropes.
After the coffin arrives at Westminster Hall, the Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct a short service assisted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.
The service will be attended by the King and members of the Royal Family, after which the lying-in-state will begin.
Two minutes of silence will be held across the UK at midday.
Later that day there will be a committal service in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The Queen will be buried in the King George VI memorial chapel, where she will be reunited with Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years.
Funeral attendees
World leaders, celebrity A-listers and close confidantes of the Queen are expected to attend her funeral.
Mourners invited are thought to include President of France Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau and US leader Joe Biden, right.
Trusted friends from among the Queen’s inner circle at the service will include Susan Hussey, Baroness Hussey of North Bradley, one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting.
British fashion designer Angela Kelly, the Queen’s personal dressmaker since 2002, is expected too.
John Warren, the Queen’s bloodstock and horse racing adviser, is also likely to make an appearance at the abbey.
Broadcaster Sir David Attenborough is among surprise guests tipped to attend, as is F1 racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart.
Security
Scotland Yard says policing across London in the run-up to the funeral will be a “hugely complex” operation.
Hundreds of extra officers have already been drafted in to cope with the huge crowds that are gathering in the capital, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said.
And numbers are set to surge as the Queen lies in state from Wednesday – while global leaders will add to security headaches as they descend on the capital to pay their respects.
Mr Cundy said: “Our role is to ensure this is going to be a safe and a secure set of events.
“Our policing operation is hugely complex, with a huge amount of detail within it.
“So we’re always mindful of all manner of different potential things that might occur.
“We know that not just the eyes of the United Kingdom but the world will be on London at this point in time.”
