Queue to pay tribute to Queen as she lies in state could reach 10 miles long – as mourners warned they might not see her | The Sun

MOURNERS queuing to pay their respects to The Queen could be standing in a line 10 miles long.

Millions of people are expected to make their way to London this week to say goodbye to Her Majesty while she's lying in state at Parliament's Westminster Hall.

The queue could reach lengths of 10 miles, with infrastructure currently set up to support nearly seven miles of royal fans stretching from Lambeth Bridge to Southwark Park.

If necessary, the park will accommodate an extra three miles of zig zag lines.

Those hoping to offer their condolences to the Queen and be a part of history by viewing her coffin will begin to be admitted from 5pm today until 6.30am on Monday.

But it's not guaranteed that everyone who makes the queue will get to see the Queen's lying in state.

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All ceremonial viewing areas for the procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall are already full, London’s City Hall said.

To help avoid disappointment, entry to the back of the line may be closed early to ensure as near as possible that those already waiting are able to file past the late monarch’s coffin in Westminster Hall to pay their respects.

It is too early to estimate when this moment might come, but the total number of people in the queue will be monitored towards the end of the lying in state period.

Entry to the line will also be paused for a time if the queuing infrastructure cannot take any more people.

There will be an element of self-policing when it comes to people keeping their places in the queue for the Queen’s lying in state, it is understood.

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Those waiting in line will be given a coloured and numbered wristband, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a reasonable amount of time.

It is thought people will know those around them in the line and be supportive when others need to step out.

Royal fans gathering in London to attend the procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall should have a dry afternoon after a cloudy morning.

The Met Office forecaster said it would be dry overnight with some clear spells, with a minimum temperature of 13C.

Monica Farag, 61, joined the queue of mourners wishing to pay their respects to the Queen at 8am on Tuesday morning.

Despite pouring rain outside Lambeth Palace where she found her spot, Ms Farag remained insistent that she would attend the Queen’s lying in state, saying: “I’m used to the British weather. I’m staying here overnight – I am not moving.”

Jacqueline Nemorin, who is 44th in the line, joined the queue to attend the lying in state at 6pm on Tuesday.

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She added that she managed “a little cat nap” at some point in the night, but the two people behind her in the queue “didn’t sleep at all”.

The late monarch’s lying in state in Westminster Hall opens to the public at 5pm on Wednesday and will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday September 19 – the day of the Queen’s funeral.

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