‘At once majestic and peaceful’: Mourners including Susanna Reid describe the extraordinary emotions they felt while walking through Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the Queen
- The queue to see the Queen’s lying in state stretches five miles across London
- GMB host Susanna Reid was among the mourners to view the coffin this evening
- Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Angela Rayner also among mourners
- Comes as well-wishers describe extraordinary camaraderie in the queue outside
- Trio who befriended each other in queue say everyone ‘offering biscuits’ around
- The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage
Mourners including Susanna Reid have described the camaraderie of crowds lining the streets of London and the extraordinary emotions of walking through Westminster Hall to pay their final respects to the Queen.
The queue to see the late Queen lying in state inside the Palace of Westminster now stretches for five miles, with well-wishers waiting more than nine hours to gain entry into the historic hall.
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid was among the mourners to view the coffin this evening, describing the experience as ‘majestic and peaceful’.
She said she waited more than seven hours with her mother to gain access to Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s coffin has been placed on a catafalque until her state funeral on Monday.
The ITV host said: ‘Evening – along with my lovely mum and her very good friend, I have just experienced a moment in history – witnessing the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall. At once majestic and peaceful.
‘If you are planning to queue here are our tips. We joined at 1.23pm near Butlers Wharf and entered Westminster Hall at 8.43pm – 7 hours 20 mins.
‘Wear the comfiest shoes you own. Go with someone if you can, although everyone in the queue was friendly.’
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner were also paid their respects to the late monarch this evening.
Dressed in a black overcoat, shirt and tie, the Tory MP looked solemn as he neared the coffin. He then bowed his head towards the coffin as he held the hands of his children.
Susanna Reid (top left) attended Westminster Hall with her mother this evening, she said in a tweet
Hundreds of thousands of people are queuing to see the Queen lie in state at the historic hall over the coming days
Members of the public pictured in a snaking queue as they wait to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg is pictured among the well-wishers inside the hall this evening
Mr Rees-Mogg bowed his head towards the Queen’s coffin as he held the hands of his children
Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also paid her respects after queueing this evening
Ms Rayner looked solemn as she clasped her hands while wearing a long black dress by the catafalque
It is estimated the number of people set to make the trip could hit more than 350,000 before Monday
The Instrument of State that will lie on the Queen’s coffin during her funeral on Monday
At the heart of the Crown Jewels are the Queen’s Instruments of State, which will lie on her coffin on Monday.
The Imperial State Crown boasts more than 3,000 gems – including 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and five rubies.
Made in 1937 for the coronation of the Queen’s father, King George VI, it weighs in at a hefty 2lb 5oz.
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II would wear it annually for the State Opening of Parliament, until it became too heavy for her to bear.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross has been used at every coronation since Charles II’s in 1661.
At 3ft long, it represents the monarch’s power in the secular world and holds a piece of the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan I, which weighs in at an astonishing 530.2 carats.
Meanwhile, the Sovereign’s Orb, a golden globe surmounted by a cross, reminds the monarch that their power is derived from God and is presented at a monarch’s coronation.
The ornate piece of regalia is golden and has a cross perched on top to symbolise heavenly power over the world.
It is extravagantly mounted with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, pearls and one amethyst.
Ms Rayner, meanwhile, was seen standing with her hands clasped as she made her way past the catafalque.
It is estimated the number of people set to make the trip could hit more than 350,000, with people from all over the world expected to visit London to pay their respects.
Mourners have already been pictured in tears as they pay their respects, as well as making the sign of the cross and standing in prayer.
It includes three well-wishers who befriended each other in the queue, who say there is a friendly ‘camaraderie’ among the crowds, before an atmosphere of sombre reflection inside the hall.
Amy Harris, 34, and Matthew Edwards, 35, met James Cross, 65, after getting the train to London from Birmingham to join the queue at about 1am.
Mr Cross said: ‘Everyone in the queue was very friendly, chatting and having a laugh. It was really quite lovely.’
The trio told of how everyone was ‘offering biscuits and drinks’ to each other.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside Westminster Hall is ‘breathtaking’, Mr Cross said.
He added: ‘When you’re able to go in and have a moment to look at it and reflect, the serenity of it – to be able to pay your respects in such a serene place, it’s very peaceful.’
‘It’s just like the only person that’s there is you. You walk in and you could hear a pin drop.’
Pesach Neussbaum, who has flown to the UK from Montreal, Canada, described seeing the coffin this evening as ‘very special and extraordinary’.
After queueing for nearly six hours, he said: ‘I was thinking that even if I did not get there to Westminster, and it turned out to be too far for me to walk, that I was still paying my last respects to the Queen.
‘I just continued for five-and-a-half hours and to see it through makes me feel fulfilled. My wife Shari – who is back in Canada – is the biggest fan of Queen Elizabeth. I figured that if my wife were here, she would want me to continue.
The near five-mile queue stretches far beyond the London Eye (pictured) as thousands wait to pay their final respects to the Queen
Well-wishers have described an extraordinary camaraderie among the thousands queuing to see the Queen
‘The Queen is an inspiration not just to myself but the entire world.’
Marc Carney, 58, filed past the Queen’s coffin at 6.40pm after travelling from his home in Hythe, Kent, this morning.
The moment he got to say his personal goodbye left him ‘struck by the realism’ of everything that is happening.
He said: ‘It hits you how moving it all us and how much love and support there’s for the Queen.’
Mr Carney joined the queue at about 11.30am, saying ‘it had been difficult to find the end of it because the line kept on growing as I was walking towards it’.
He added: ‘It was great once you got there and was part of it. You just amble along with everyone and it was a great atmosphere.
‘It was so rewarding and peaceful in lots of ways. You also got to see London under a different cloud. It was worth it making that long journey. It makes you focus on what you are here for.’
The UK chief commissioner of the Scouts Carl Hankinson, who is among those helping to monitor the queue around Victoria Gardens, said volunteers have been ‘on their feet 12 hours’ a day to help ensure the smooth running of admissions.
The Scout, who once met the Queen at a garden party, said: ‘She was fantastic in every way – she was interested in Scouts, she was conversational, very encouraging and very supportive of young people.
‘(The crowd atmosphere) is poignant, very quiet and respectful – some people are tired, of course, but, generally, a great atmosphere.’
Priest Peter Walters, who works in Colombia, joined the queue at 1.20am on Thursday.
He said: ‘The atmosphere in there was one of absolute silence, great reverence, great respect and great reflection. It was really a very memorable experience.
‘Everyone had the chance to pause – despite the queues, there was no great sense of rush.’
A spokesperson for Liz Truss today said it was ‘no surprise’ that such a large number of people want to honour the Queen in this way.
mourners could be prevented from seeing the Queen lying in state if they arrive at the end of the queue later than 12.30am on Sunday
A woman draped in a special Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Union Jack flag queues to see her coffin this evening
They added: ‘People of the United Kingdom are demonstrating not only their commitment, their respect for the Queen, but respect for each other in queuing in such a responsible way and showing sort of a great response to this situation.’
The coffin, which sits on a catafalque and is draped with a Royal Standard, continues to be guarded at all hours by units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
Esme Martins, a retired judge, said among the solemnity in the queue were moments of ‘celebration of a great life’.
The 65-year-old said people from ‘all walks of life, all races and all ages’ are in the queue to visit the coffin.
She added: ‘You made friends with the people around you and some of them I think we may be in touch with. We exchanged numbers.
‘People were quiet and sombre but there was also a sense of celebration of a great life.’
Joseph Afrane, a 58-year-old security guard, moved from Ghana to the UK 30 years ago. He said he has taken time off work to allow him the opportunity to visit the coffin.
He added: ‘I’ve taken one week off without working, without pay, to come and show my respect throughout the whole funeral. Because she was a fantastic head of state, and Head of Commonwealth.
‘On Monday I’ll make sure I get a good spot at the House of Parliament Square so I can see the coffin and say my final words. Farewell to our dedicated and humble queen.’
It comes as sources today told MailOnline how mourners could be prevented from seeing the Queen lying in state if they arrive at the end of the queue in Southwark Park later than 12.30am on Sunday.
Organisers have designated the bottom of the 63-acre park as the end of the line to see Elizabeth II’s coffin in Westminster Hall, more than five miles away.
The estimated waiting time for those joining in the park, where snaking airport-style queues have been set up, is 30 hours.
That means that people have until 12.30am on Sunday with which to join the line before the time The Queen lays in state officially ends at 6.30am on Monday, the day of the state funeral.
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