Three mourners clad with foldable chairs and snacks have flocked to Westminster to camp & queue for the Queen's lying in state - two days before the event.
Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, was first in line to queue up close to Lambeth Bridge, as she felt it was "her duty".
Ms Nathakumaran, from Harrow, had no plans to spend two nights camping in Westminster, as she is currently staying in a hotel while her home is repaired.
“I was taking a walk I asked them what they were setting up for, I felt a strange sense of feeling overwhelmed, but I knew I must do my duty," she told the Mirror.
“It is very emotional to know that she passed on, she’s done a great service.
“My grand uncle was knighted by King George V, and was invited to his coronation. He was the speaker of the Parliament in Sri Lanka.
“My daughter was selected to be the Guard of Honour during the Golden Jubilee.
“She was also lucky to meet Prince William too. I feel like my family has ties with the Royals, who are so kind. I owe it to them to queue and pay my respects.”
Ms Nathalumaran, Annie and Grace Gothard from Mitcham, will spend two nights on the Westminster streets, close to Lambeth Bridge in order to avoid the long queues.
Annie, 65, from Cardiff, who wished not to give her last name, was second person to join the queue by Lambeth Bridge for the Queen’s lying in state.
The 65-year-old arrived at about 2:15pm with a chair and a Welsh flag, saying she had got up at 3am and travelled with a group from Cardiff but only found out where to go after seeing Vanessa Nanthakumaran on the news.
She said: “So here we are and representing Wales.”
On hearing the news of the Queen’s death, she said: “I couldn’t stop crying for days.”
Anne said waiting for days is “nothing to me” adding that she had come prepared with Welsh cakes and a sandwich as well as ordering from Deliveroo.
“We have plenty of lovely company,” she said. “People are so kind in London.”
Ms Gothard, from Mitcham, South London, who chose not to give out her age, said her friend Annie urged her to get ready and get in line.
“The Queen took great care of the Commonwealth. I’m from Ghana and I’ve loved her for that.
“She was working right up until she sadly passed away. She’s an inspirational figure.
“I really hope King Charles follows suit and continues to look after the Commonwealth.”
Security staff and stewards are lined up at regular intervals along the expected queue route, which is understood to stretch from Victoria Tower Gardens across Lambeth Bridge down to Westminster Bridge before veering right then left down Belvedere Road, through Jubilee Gardens back to South Bank and along to the Tate.
Metropolitan Police officers, as well as Welsh police officers, are manning the expected route, parts of which are already lined with barriers.
After the Tate, it is unclear where it will flow from there, security staff say.
Portaloos and crowd control infrastructure such as barriers and temporary flooring have been set up inside Victoria Tower Gardens, which is likely to be the pinnacle of the queue before it leads into Cornwall Gardens.
