Thousands of people queued overnight to pay their respects to the Queen as she lies in state.
The late monarch's coffin continues to be guarded at all hours at Westminster Hall. On Wednesday, the first mourners were allowed in, with people sleeping rough overnight in the pouring rain to be admitted.
At night, the queue measured around three miles at one point before shortening to Blackfriars Bridge - around 1.5 miles from the Queen’s current resting place. By 8am on Thursday, the queue was around 2.6 miles long and stretched to Borough Market.
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The mourners were solemn and pensive as they flowed into the ancient hall where chandeliers and spotlights illuminated the scene beneath the medieval timber roof. As hundreds of people of all ages filed past the coffin, many wiped their eyes with tissues. Some bowed, some curtsied and some simply took a moment to look at the extraordinary scene.
Among the first to join the queue was Nina Kristofferson, 40, from north London, who joined at 5am on Tuesday, reports The Mirror. She said: “It was really emotional, just having a moment to say thank you for everything - 70 years of service.
“It really is breath-taking. I was tearful. It was an honour just to stand there and take it all in. To give thanks and give a little curtsy to say thank you.
“I couldn’t wish for a more fitting opportunity to say goodbye. I’m really grateful. She will always be in our hearts.
“It was overwhelming, you want to stop and take pictures but it’s right that you don’t - that you savour the atmosphere and savour the moment. It was priceless. I had to be here.”
Delroy Morrison, 61, from Wembley and fourth in the queue, added: “[The wait] was a piece of cake considering the 70 years the Queen spent looking after us. It was a bit emotional, I took my hat off and said ‘thank you my Queen, you have done a great job as you promised’. I bowed and then we walked past.”
Metropolitan Police officers, volunteers and stewards are managing the queue while toilets and water fountains are provided at various points along the route.
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