London: Thousands of mourners took their places in a queue sniffing around the center of London On Wednesday, without complaint acknowledging that they may have to wait hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth lying in state.
Some even weathered the rain and slept overnight on the sidewalk to secure their position in the queue, which could stretch for 10 miles to gain access to Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the property that houses Parliament, where the late The queen will remain in the kingdom till then. His funeral on Monday.
As people began to lay down the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall at 5 p.m. (1600.) GMT), many paused for a moment to bow their heads and some wiped their tears.
Government officials said they could not give an exact figure for how many people wanted to file behind the Queen’s coffin, but about 750,000 people were expected to arrive. At 1645 GMT, the government said the queue was about 2.6 miles long.
Speaking to people in line, Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, said: “We are honoring two great British traditions, one to love the Queen and one to the Queer.”
kenneth TailorThe 72-year-old, who was the first in the queue to stay overnight in the tent, said he had developed a lump in his throat after seeing Rani lying in her condition.
“We’ve lost someone special,” said a tearful Taylor. “Her service to this country was really steadfast and unshakeable. And perhaps she is what I would call the queen of queens.”
Among those gathered, some were to represent elderly parents, others to look back at history and many to thank the woman who ascended the throne in 1952, just two days before she died. was holding official government meetings.
Mark Bonser, 59, of Doncaster, northern England, said the Queen was “everybody’s second mother”.
“She has given us 70 years of her life. I am sure I can give my 24 hours, just give her that respect,” he said of the Queen, who died last week at the age of 96. Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The sadness created by Elizabeth’s death has already drawn large crowds in Scotland, where she lay for 24 hours at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Around 33,000 people paid tribute during that time.
The London memorial, lasting almost five days and ending on the morning of his funeral, is a huge occasion.
Hundreds of thousands, predicted to join the line, will be asked to line up along the southern bank of the River Thames, rotating past landmarks including the giant London Eye Ferris wheel and a reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Upon joining the queue, mourners will be given a colored wristband with a number on it and will be allowed to exit the queue for a period of time to use the toilet or to eat and drink.
More than 1,000 stewards, volunteers, marshals and police officers will provide first aid to those who may find the wait too long. The British Film Institute will have an outdoor screen broadcast footage of the Queen and her reign.
Some even weathered the rain and slept overnight on the sidewalk to secure their position in the queue, which could stretch for 10 miles to gain access to Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the property that houses Parliament, where the late The queen will remain in the kingdom till then. His funeral on Monday.
As people began to lay down the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall at 5 p.m. (1600.) GMT), many paused for a moment to bow their heads and some wiped their tears.
Government officials said they could not give an exact figure for how many people wanted to file behind the Queen’s coffin, but about 750,000 people were expected to arrive. At 1645 GMT, the government said the queue was about 2.6 miles long.
Speaking to people in line, Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York, said: “We are honoring two great British traditions, one to love the Queen and one to the Queer.”
kenneth TailorThe 72-year-old, who was the first in the queue to stay overnight in the tent, said he had developed a lump in his throat after seeing Rani lying in her condition.
“We’ve lost someone special,” said a tearful Taylor. “Her service to this country was really steadfast and unshakeable. And perhaps she is what I would call the queen of queens.”
Among those gathered, some were to represent elderly parents, others to look back at history and many to thank the woman who ascended the throne in 1952, just two days before she died. was holding official government meetings.
Mark Bonser, 59, of Doncaster, northern England, said the Queen was “everybody’s second mother”.
“She has given us 70 years of her life. I am sure I can give my 24 hours, just give her that respect,” he said of the Queen, who died last week at the age of 96. Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The sadness created by Elizabeth’s death has already drawn large crowds in Scotland, where she lay for 24 hours at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Around 33,000 people paid tribute during that time.
The London memorial, lasting almost five days and ending on the morning of his funeral, is a huge occasion.
Hundreds of thousands, predicted to join the line, will be asked to line up along the southern bank of the River Thames, rotating past landmarks including the giant London Eye Ferris wheel and a reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Upon joining the queue, mourners will be given a colored wristband with a number on it and will be allowed to exit the queue for a period of time to use the toilet or to eat and drink.
More than 1,000 stewards, volunteers, marshals and police officers will provide first aid to those who may find the wait too long. The British Film Institute will have an outdoor screen broadcast footage of the Queen and her reign.