A handful of die-hard royalists gathered on the banks of the Thames today to secure their place at the front of the queue to view the Queen's coffin.
Officials expect tens of thousands will file through Westminster Hall to pay their respects as the late monarch lies in state, with queues of up to 35 hours anticipated.
At 2.30pm today The Mirror counted 12 people in the queue, just over 24 hours before the lying in state begins at 5pm tomorrow.
It has been estimated that 350,000 people will pass by in four-and-a-half days, with some visitors at risk of being turned away if demand is too high.
Among them was historian Anita Atkinson, 65, who travelled to the capital from County Durham. She has her own museum dedicated to the royals on the farm she lives on.
She told The Mirror that locals had delivered flowers to her home when they heard of the monarch's passing.
"I didn't feel like I deserved them, so I brought them down to the palace on Saturday," she said.
Anita, who has been giving talks on the monarchy for nearly half a century, said she had briefly spoken to the Queen on a number of occasions after waiting in the streets when she visited her area.
"Every time she came to the North East I've gone to see her." she said.
"To be in her space was just electrifying, it's like some kind of goddess with an aura. For her to talk to you and only to you, it's an absolutely incredible experience."
Railway worker Sarah Langley, 55, joined the queue as soon as she finished work on Monday night, and has to be back on duty at 6.20am on Thursday.
Speaking as rain began to pour down, she said: "It'll pass. It's not a big deal to wait 48 hours for someone who gave 70 years of their lives for us. I queued 11 hours to see the Queen mother lying in state.
"My fiance stayed until 5am before going to work, he's going to come back later with my charged phone, I don't even have a phone at the moment.
"It's a testament to how loved she was by everybody, you never know how much you miss someone."
Delroy Morrison, 61, who lives in North London, said he was looking forward to being one of the first to see the late monarch lying in state.
"I just want to say thank you ma'am," he said. "This is the last thing I can do for my Queen."
The dad-of-five, who has 16 grandchildren, said members of his family are also hoping to see the Queen's coffin, and said the long wait in the rain doesn't bother him.
"It doesn't matter to me, as long as my health is ok. It'll be fine, she spent 70 years looking after me."
Carer Monica Farag, 61, told The Mirror she grew up in the Philippines, where she became enchanted by royal history.
"It's a privilege and an honour to pay my last respects to the Queen, it's a celebration of her life," she said.
"I had a great admiration for the Queen, she was really hardworking and she had integrity."
She said friends had pledged to bring her food, and quipped: "It's ok, I brought lipstick and a comb."
Her friend, faith healer Stephen, 61, said: "I did go to see her at the first Jubilee in 1977 when I was around 16. I remember her being in Wakefield, where I'm from, and I knew she was going to Huddersfield so I went to see her again.
"As a young 16-year-old I was so excited and overjoyed seeing her in the flesh as opposed to on TV.
"She was a lovely lady with a beaming smile and I saw the way she was with people, she put them at ease."
The Mirror yesterday reported that Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, Annie, 65, from Cardiff, and Grace Gothard were the first three people to secure their place in the queue.
All of them were still there today as they show their admiration for the late monarch.
Ms Nathakumaran, from Harrow, said yesterday: “I was taking a walk I asked them what they were setting up for, I felt a strange sense of feeling overwhelmed, but I knew I must do my duty.
“It is very emotional to know that she passed on, she’s done a great service."
David Chellet, 75, believes he is the tenth person to queue up along the Albert Embankment for the Queen's lying-in-state.
Mr Chellet wore his sombre best, wearing a grey suit, black tie and grey coat, but he arrived without any overnight clothes, or even a foldable chair.
"I don't know how I'm going to stay here for 24 hours but I must. I will find a way.
"The Queen has been all I've really known since I was five years old. She has sacrificed so much for me, this is the least I can do."
As Mr Chellet spoke to the Mirror, his daughter rang his mobile phone.
She could be heard on loudspeaker telling him: "What on earth are you thinking, dad?
"Have you lost your mind? You can barely stand for an hour. You don't even have food do you? Or water?"
He responded, "I'm not sure either doll, but this is something I must do. For my Queen."
Mariean Kaewthong, 51, from Wrexham told the Mirror she became friends with Kris, 71, from Stanmore, Middlesex who was behind her in the queue.
The pair describe themselves as "crazy" but insist all Brits should consider paying their last respects, regardless of when they decide to queue up.
Ms Kaewthong said: "I thought about lining up as soon as I saw Vanessa, the first mourner to stand in line.
"I couldn't sleep last night so I arrived here today(TUES), packed with my water bottles, snacks for sugar and of course my sleeping. It's not going to be comfortable but why wouldn't I come?
"We always think of the big things the Queen has done but it's also the little things.
"We can fart in public... she can't do that. And she didn't choose to live such a life!"
The pair said they were shocked and saddened to learn of the Queen's passing.
Ms Kaewthong added: "In Thai culture, paying your last respects is a huge thing. I will stay here until Wednesday."
Downing Street has refused to rule out some people being turned away from the queue to the lying-in-state if it gets too busy.
No10 also did not deny reports the waiting time has been estimated at 17 to 35 hours, saying it “will be very long”.
But the PM’s spokesman said the government was not asking mourners to stay away from the capital, adding: “We do want as many people as possible to be able to come to the lying in state.
“This is a significant period for the United Kingdom... What we’re doing is being up-front with what we expect to be significant numbers of people.”
The PM’s spokesman said he was unaware of any “upper cap” to the number of people who can pass through Westminster Hall - after reports only 350,000 will be able to file through in four and a half days, leaving many disappointed.
While he said decisions on access to the queue will have to be made on the ground, “we don’t know exactly how many people will attend, albeit we expect it to be very large numbers.
“I don’t think there’s necessarily going to be a cutoff point - our overarching aim is to make sure as many people as possible can get through.”
There will be 1,500 soldiers on standby to help stewards, and there will be a “significant operation” for police to keep mourners safe.
