Queen’s lying-in-state: Mourners urged not to join the queue

newsdesk@iliffemedia.co.uk

Published: 11:38, 18 September 2022

| Updated: 15:59, 18 September 2022

The government has urged people not to set off from home to join the queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state.

A decision on when to close the queue is due on Sunday from The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II. Picture: Marco Bertorello/PA

At 9.30am on Sunday, it said: “A decision will be taken today on when entry to the queue for Her Majesty The Queen’s Lying-in-State will close as it reaches final capacity.

“Queue times are already 13.5 hours and may increase.

“To avoid disappointment please do not set off to join the queue.”

Tens of thousands of people have made the pilgrimage across central London to pay their respects to the late monarch over the past four days.

At its peak on Saturday morning, the queue was believed to be more than 25 hours long.

Members of the public in the queue next to the River Thames near Bermondsey, London, as they wait to view the Queen lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. Picture: James Manning/PA

The late monarch’s coffin will remain in Westminster Hall for the public to view until 6.30am on Monday, ahead of the state funeral in Westminster Abbey.

A minute’s silence will be held across the nation at 8pm on Sunday.

Cambridge East Cambridgeshire Royals South Cambridgeshire Newsdesk Cambridge