Crowds face 30-hour queues stretching back five miles to see the Queen's coffin

12 September 2022, 11:46

Mourners face 30 hour queues to see Queen's coffin
Mourners face 30 hour queues to see Queen's coffin. Picture: Alamy

By StephenRigley

Mourners hoping to see the Queen's coffin in Parliament this week will face queues of up to 30 hours, a Cabinet minister has warned.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Culture secretary Michelle Donelan warned of "unprecedented demand" to see Her Majesty's coffin before her state funeral at Westminster Abbey next week.

Around 750,000 people are expected to line up to pay their respects to Her late Majesty - and could face queues longer than a day stretching back five miles.

Culture secretary Michelle Donelan wrote to fellow MPs via WhatsApp this morning: "Queues could be up to 30 hours as we are obviously expecting and planning for unprecedented demand", The Times reported.

Officials expect as many as one million people to swell in the capital, rivalling the huge number who gathered in London to pay tribute to Princess Diana after her death in August 1997.

Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday afternoon until her state funeral on Monday morning.

The government is also said to be braced for London to be “full” for the very first time.

Crowds amass at Buckingham Palace after news of the Queen's death
Crowds amass at Buckingham Palace after news of the Queen's death. Picture: Alamy

Around 1,500 soldiers will help stewards look after the lines, with 10,000 cops deployed throughout the capital.

Photos taken this morning showed the queue line had already been set up at 7am - more than 48 hours before the Queen's arrival in the city.

King Charles III today addressed MPs and members of the House of Lords in Parliament, expressing his gratitude as he was presented with a book of condolences by parliamentarians.

He described Parliament as "the living and breathing instrument of democracy”, adding : “I cannot help but feel the weight of history that surrounds us."

Those paying their respects gather outside Buckingham Palace the day after the Queen died
Those paying their respects gather outside Buckingham Palace the day after the Queen died. Picture: Alamy

The newly installed King was pictured fighting back tears as the crowd at Westminster Hall sang "God Save the King".

The Queen Mother was the last person to lie in state in the UK, following her death in 2002.

More than 200,000 people lined up to visit her at Westminster Hall.

Visitors have been told to dress appropriately and remain quiet while paying their respects.

Buckingham Palace with adoring Brits stood outside on Thursday
Buckingham Palace with adoring Brits stood outside on Thursday. Picture: lbc/alamy

King Charles also quoted Shakespeare in a tribute to his 'beloved mother' as he addressed Parliament for the first time since becoming monarch.

Charles said the late Queen had “set an example of selfless duty which, with God's help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow.”

“I am deeply grateful for addresses of condolence, which so touchingly encompass what late sovereign beloved mother meant to us all,” he added.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told Westminster Hall that in his first address King Charles "pledged to uphold constitutional principles at the heart of our nation".

Sir Lindsay said: "In your first address to the nation you recognised your life would change as a result of the new responsibilities.

King Charles greets crowds outside the Palace the morning after his mother's death
King Charles greets crowds outside the Palace the morning after his mother's death. Picture: lbc/alamy

"You pledged yourself to uphold constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.

"These are weighty responsibilities, as the early Queen Elizabeth said in her final speech to parliamentarians 'to be a king and wear a crown is a thing more glorious to them that see it than it is pleasant to them that bear it.'"

Following the King's address, the audience stood and the national anthem was then sung in Westminster Hall.

The King will fly to Edinburgh later today where the Queen’s coffin rests at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Royal family members will walk behind the coffin as it goes to St Giles’s Cathedral for public view after a service this afternoon.

Culture secretary Michelle Donelan, whose department is overseeing plans
Culture secretary Michelle Donelan, whose department is overseeing plans. Picture: Alamy

King Charles III arrives at Parliament for accession event

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

'Let all hell break out': Trump says Gaza ceasefire 'should be axed' if Hamas doesn't free all hostages on Saturday

Kim Leadbeater after the bill passed its first reading in November

Assisted dying cases could go ahead without judge's approval

Kanye West

Kanye West slammed for Super Bowl advert directing viewers to site selling swastika t-shirts

Matar is accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie

Man accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie says 'Free Palestine' as he is led into court

Legendary strongman Geoff Capes left nearly £240,000 in his will

Legendary strongman and Olympian Geoff Capes leaves £240k in will following death aged 75

The scene in Coulter Road, Hammersmith, west London, following the death of a woman in a flat

Woman, 36, found dead after man seen trying to force his way into flat in west London

Quinn Parker

'Inhumane' NHS trust admits maternity failings as three babies die within months of each other

The Aesculapian snake can grow up to two metres in length

Europe's biggest snake 'thriving' in UK and living in people's attics, study finds

The Aurora Borealis, Or Northern Lights, Visible From Large Swath Of North America

Northern Lights to be visible across parts of UK tonight

Zhenhao Zou is accused of rape

Woman among 10 allegedly raped by Chinese PhD student in London left “angry and ashamed” after attack, court told

London, UK. 28th January, 2025. Attorney General Richard Hermer arrives in Downing Street to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting. Credit: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Alamy Live News

Labour spat as peer brands attorney general Lord Hermer 'arrogant, progressive fool' and calls for him to quit

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Soldier, 19, complained of 'unwelcome behaviour' from 'psychotic and possessive' boss before taking her own life

Watch the rousing Super Bowl ad directed by Michael Bay on behalf of the Secret Service

US Secret Service spends millions on recruitment film from Hollywood director Michael Bay

Father jailed for at least 15 years after murdering daughter, 14, in 'kitchen play fight'

Scarlett Vickers' grandad defends father who stabbed teen to death in 'kitchen play fight'

Israeli captive Eli Sharabi was handed over on Saturday

Hamas delays the release of hostages 'until further notice' over claims Israel violated ceasefire deal

Donald Trump has said he is working on a plan to broker a deal to bring an end the war in Ukraine

Trump's Russia-Ukraine plan explained: How the US President intends to end the war