The Queen is the greatest monarch the world has ever seen and I could not pass up a chance to honour her life," said David Carlson.
The 75-year-old army veteran, from Wandsworth, was among the thousands queuing on Wednesday morning to visit the Queen's coffin as it lies in state.
He arrived on the banks of the Thames yesterday at 10.30am and braved the wind and rain overnight in the hope of being one of the first into Westminster Hall where the monarch will lie for four days until her state funeral on Monday.
"I've not found the weather hard to cope with," Mr Carlton said. "I was in the armed forces and because I had to swear an oath and allegiance to the Queen to join the forces I thought this is my last time to honour that.
