Honouring the Queen’: Thousands Queue in London to Pay Final Respects

LONDON — Thousands of mourners gathered in London on Wednesday (Sept 14), patiently taking their places in a queue that snaked through the city’s center, prepared to wait for hours to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II as she lay in state.

Some dedicated mourners even camped overnight in the rain to secure their position in the queue, which could stretch up to 16 km for access to Westminster Hall, the historic building where the queen will remain until her funeral on Monday. Westminster Hall is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate.

By 5 p.m. (2 a.m. on Thursday, Singapore time), people began filing past the queen’s coffin, many stopping briefly to bow their heads or wipe away tears.

While government officials couldn’t estimate exactly how many would attend, it was expected that around 750,000 people would pass through to pay their respects. As of 12:45 a.m. Singapore time, the queue was already about 4 km long, according to officials.

Speaking to those in the queue, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, remarked, “We are honoring two great British traditions, loving the queen and loving a queue.”

Kenneth Taylor, 72, who camped overnight in a tent to secure his spot, expressed his emotions upon seeing the queen lying in state. “A lump came to my throat,” he said tearfully. “Her service to this country was steadfast and unswerving. She truly was the queen of queens.”

Among the crowd, some mourners stood in line on behalf of elderly parents, while others came to witness history or express their gratitude to a monarch who ascended the throne in 1952 and was still working just days before her passing.

Mark Bonser, 59, from Doncaster, described the queen as “everybody’s second mother.” He added, “She gave 70 years of her life to us. The least I can do is give 24 hours of mine to pay my respects.”

The wave of grief over Queen Elizabeth’s death had already drawn large crowds in Scotland, where around 33,000 people paid their respects during her 24-hour lying in state at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.

In London, the queen’s memorial will last nearly five days, culminating in her funeral. The hundreds of thousands of mourners expected to join the queue will line up along the southern bank of the River Thames, passing iconic landmarks such as the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Upon entering the queue, attendees will receive a numbered wristband allowing them to leave temporarily for food or restroom breaks. More than 1,000 stewards, volunteers, and police officers will be stationed along the route, with first aid on hand for those who find the wait overwhelming.

The British Film Institute will also set up an outdoor screen showing footage of Queen Elizabeth II and her 70-year reign.