Thousands of people met the Prince and Princess of Wales at Sandringham, Rebecca Barry reports Thousands of well-wishers turned out on Thursday to watch the Prince and Princess of Wales gaze at a sea of flowers left for the late Queen from the gates of the Sandringham estate. The couple traveled to Norfolk as one of many visits made by members of the royal family across the UK. Dozens of people gathered behind metal barriers to catch a glimpse of the royal couple, who stayed for almost an hour speaking to those paying their respects, taking time to read messages. Prince William told mourners that nothing could really have prepared him for his grandmother’s death last Thursday. “Doing the ride yesterday was challenging, it brought back some memories,” he said. “It’s one of those moments where you think to yourself I’ve prepared for this, but I’m not that prepared. “It’s this weird king of things … because we knew it was 96.” “I’m not that prepared,” the Prince of Wales told well-wishers Receptionist Jane Wells, 54, from Long Sutton in Lincolnshire, told Prince William how proud his mother, the late Princess Diana, who died in 1997, would have been of him. “I said how proud his mother would be of him and he said how difficult it was yesterday because it brought back memories of his mother’s funeral,” she said. Caroline Barwick-Walters, 66, from Neath in Wales, added: “He told us how difficult it was yesterday, how it brought back memories of walking behind his mother’s coffin.” Mrs Barwick-Walters said she told Prince William “thank you for sharing your grief with the nation” and that he replied “she was everyone’s grandmother”. Meanwhile, the Princess Royal, accompanied by her husband Sir Tim Laurence, are visiting Glasgow City Chambers to meet representatives of organizations of which the Queen has been a patron. Princess Anne spoke to well-wishers and mourners outside the City Chambers in George Square. Princess Anne viewed the tributes left for the Queen during a visit to Glasgow City Chambers The Earl and Countess of Wessex are also visiting Manchester today and have been invited by the Dean of Manchester, the Rt Rev Rogers Govender and the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, to light a candle in the city’s cathedral. They were shown pictures from the Queen’s last visit to Manchester Cathedral, to mark the congregation’s 600th anniversary in July 2021. Earlier, council leader Bev Craig showed Edward and Sophie similar books of condolence opened in the library reading room, where they also looked at a number of cards written by local children. Members of the public have flocked to the cathedral following the monarch’s death to sign a book of condolence and light a candle. The Earl and Countess of Wessex light candles at Manchester Cathedral in memory of the Queen The royal couple then went to St Ann’s Square which, in May 2017, was filled with bouquets of flowers and heartfelt messages and tributes in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in which 22 people were killed. Elsewhere in London, mourners are queuing through the night for the Queen’s Lying in State, while the King is set to take a day off from public duties. Members of the public can pay their respects at the late monarch’s coffin 24 hours a day at Westminster Hall, with queues along Lambeth Bridge and Albert Embankment continuing to flow throughout the night. The Queen’s coffin continues to be guarded at all hours by units of the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Department or the Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London. One of the guards suddenly collapsed during the night, with nearby officials quickly rushing to his aid after he appeared to pass out. The queue route for mourners who wish to see the Queen lie in State at Westminster Hall. Credit: ITV News Metropolitan Police officers, volunteers and flight attendants manage the queue while there are toilets and taps at various points along the route. People waiting in line are given a colored and numbered wristband to manage the line. Wednesday night was the first time people could pay their respects to the queen after the ancient hall opened at 5pm on Wednesday. Watch ITV News’ continuous live coverage of the Queen in State at Westminster Hall On Wednesday afternoon, the king led the royal family in a public show of respect by walking behind the Queen’s coffin during a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. Her coffin will remain there until the state funeral on Monday. Scottish Defense Secretary Alistair Jack and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace were among those who stood solemnly in dark uniforms on Thursday at the raised dais on which the coffin rests. As hundreds of ordinary people of all ages filed past the longtime monarch’s coffin, many wiped their eyes with tissues. Some bowed, some retreated, and some just took a moment to look at the amazing scene. Thousands queue to pass through Victoria Tower Gardens on their way to Westminster Hall Former Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip were among those who paid their respects to the Queen at Westminster Hall. On Wednesday night, King Charles returned to his home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire, for a private day of reflection. Elsewhere, the King’s Counsel will take part in the laying of wreaths after the Queen’s death. King Charles III arrives at Westminster Hall Credit: Phil Noble/PA Preparations for Her Majesty’s state funeral had begun outside Windsor Castle on Thursday. Railings about a mile long now line each side of the famous Long Walk leading to the castle. Tents, speakers and pylons are also set up, while stalls advertising coffee and soft drinks are set up at intervals along the road. The Queen will be laid to rest with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh at St George’s Chapel within the walls of Windsor Castle on Monday. The Queen’s remarkable life remembered and the King’s inaugural address analyzed in our latest episodes of What You Need to Know
