Crowds of members of the public have begun to pay their respects to the Queen at the Palace of Westminster with a queue almost 3 miles long. The late monarch’s coffin was carried from Buckingham Palace in a moving procession. The crowds lining the streets occasionally erupt into spontaneous applause or cheers. The coffin, which was followed by the King with his three siblings – Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, arrived at Westminster Hall shortly after 3pm. Princes William and Harry were also present. The Queen’s funeral began at 5pm, continuing until 6.30am on Monday – the day of the Queen’s funeral.
read more
Live updates
Show latest updates 1663174130
Watch: Audiences pay tribute to Queen
Queen’s lying-in-state: Public Pays their Respects 1663174047
Artists behind Queen mural spark online trolls
The artists behind a much-maligned mural of Queen Elizabeth have challenged online trolls to come and see the finished piece in Hounslow. Jignesh Patel and his younger brother Yash’s painting of the Queen in Kingsley Road, Hounslow has seen millions after it went viral on Facebook and other social media sites. But with great fame comes harsher critics. Some have condemned the 10m tall portrait as looking less like the Queen and more like Lord of the Ball Michael Flatley, Mikhail Gorbachev or even former England manager Roy Hodgson. Read more here. Jignesh Patel 1663173361
The Queen is in an ‘overwhelming’ state
One of the first people to pay their respects to the Queen at Westminster Hall was Polly from Hertfordshire. He told Sky News the experience of seeing the coffin was “overwhelming”. “I knew what to expect, but it’s still so peaceful and so beautiful, it’s overwhelming. “It’s really a chance to say goodbye to a queen we all respect and care for.” Polly said she “got quite emotional”. “We will miss the queen,” he said. Getty Images1663172907
what happened today
At 2.22pm, the Queen’s coffin was carried in a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster. The King, his siblings, children and other members of the royal family traveled behind the coffin in a 38-minute procession. A short prayer service was held at Westminster Hall as the Queen’s coffin was carried. Members of the public began to pay their respects as the Queen began at 5pm. It will continue until 6.30am on Monday 19 September. Thousands line the Soutbank to catch a glimpse of the Queen. POOL/AFP via Getty Images1663171874
The people pay their respects to the queen
Many nodded at the Queen’s coffin and bowed as it passed slowly and silently through Westminster Hall. Some took off their hats and stood, taking in the moment. Others were seen crying. 1663171628
The first people enter Westminster Hall
The first members of the public entered Westminster Hall in Parliament to pay their respects to the Queen. They are the first of thousands waiting in a queue almost three miles long, stretching along the Southbank to Tower Bridge. The Queen will remain in state until 6.30am on Monday, the day of her funeral. 1663170746
Pictured: Thousands queue for Queen’s lying in state
PAAPGetty Images1663169784
From the Archives: Queue for King George V
A picture of the long queue of pilgrims at Westminster Hall to pay their respects to King George V has been released. The line was about two miles long in London on 2 January 1936. AP1663169564
Queue stretching all the way to London Bridge
The queue to see the Queen lie in state has stretched 2.5 miles to London Bridge. More than 4,000 people are waiting, with many prepared to wait all night to pay their respects. In less than 30 minutes people at the front of the line will enter Westminster Hall. PA1663169113
TfL faces biggest challenge in its history, says Boss
Transport for London (TfL) is facing the “biggest event and challenge” in its history, says its boss Andy Byford. More than a million people are expected to travel to London to pay their respects to the Queen. More than 19,000 people started or finished their journeys at Hyde Park Corner station on Tuesday, which was double the total on the same day last week. Green Park has become an exit station only to avoid overcrowding. Across the Tube network as a whole, TfL recorded 2.99 million journeys on Tuesday, up 8% on a week earlier.
