Britain urges people not to travel to join queen’s queue

The British government urged people on Saturday not to travel to join the queue to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as the huge demand means people are having to stand in line for at least 24 hours to reach her lying-in-state.

Tens of thousands of people have already filed past the coffin in a steady, solemn stream, queuing for hours through the dark and cold to pay their respects to Britain's longest-reigning monarch — a testimony to the affection in which she was held.

People build their tents as they queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II in London. AFP

On Saturday the culture department said it would pause entry to the queue if demand became too high, adding at 1am (0000 GMT): "Please do not travel."

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The death of the queen on Sept. 8 at her summer estate in the Scottish highlands has sparked an outpouring of emotion across the country and 10 days of highly choreographed events.

People wait in the queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II in London on Saturday. AFP

Having laid at rest in the Scottish capital for 24 hours the coffin was flown south to London, where tens of thousands of people crowded on to a normally busy road in driving rain to observe the flag-draped casket being driven to Buckingham Palace.

On Friday night King Charles joined his three siblings - Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward in a silent vigil at the coffin while their eight children, including William and Harry, will form their own ceremonial guard later on Saturday.

Like many, Sarah Boniface, a 60-year-old estate agent, was teary and emotional as she left the great Westminster Hall on Friday night after standing for 14 hours, having seen the new king hold the vigil as she passed by the coffin.

"It's been worth every minute. Every minute," she said, visibly holding back tears. "I'm so lucky to have paid my respects to the queen and seen our new king."

Reuters