Thousands of mourners took their places in a queue snaking around the centre of London on Wednesday, recognising without complaint that they might have to wait for hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth lying in state.
Some even braved the rain and slept on the pavement overnight to secure their position in the queue, which could stretch for 10 miles to gain access to Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the estate that houses parliament where the late queen will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.
As people began filing past the queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall from 5 p.m. (1600 GMT), many stopped for a moment to bow their head and some wiped away tears.
Government officials said they could not put a precise figure on how many would want to file past the queen’s coffin, but around 750,000 people were expected. At 1645 GMT, the government said the queue was around 2.6 miles long.
Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, speaking to people in the line, said: “We are honouring two great British traditions, loving the queen and loving a queue.”
