People explain why they want to line up for hours to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in medieval Westminister Hall

Alia ShoaibSep 15, 2022, 20:46 IST

The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it Lies in State inside Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster on September 14, 2022 in London, England.Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people queued up to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state and pay their respects.
The queue is expected to reach five miles long, with over 750,000 people predicted to view the monarch's coffin.

Thousands lined up to pay their respects as Queen Elizabeth II's coffin journeyed on a gun carriage from Buckingham Palace to lie in state at the 1000-year-old Westminster Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

The crowd was young and old, British and non-British, alone or with their families. They gathered to mourn the beloved Queen, who reigned for 70 years.

Some got to the line two days early and had camped overnight in the rain, despite warnings from ministers that they could be queuing for over 30 hours. Officials predicted the line could reach five miles long, and around 750,000 people are expected to join, per The Times.

Insider spoke to people as they waited to pay their respects.

An American family happened to be on vacation in the UK when the Queen passed away.

Robert Rudesill (right) with his sister, mother and cousin (L-R) from Virginia, USA.Alia Shoaib/Insider

Veterans lined up to pay their respects.

Gary Cross (L) and Scott Davis (R) wanted to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.Alia Shoaib/Insider

The queuing system was well organized.

Signs marked where to line up and where to drop off bags larger than the permitted size.Alia Shoaib/Insider

The government has been releasing live updates about the length of the line.

Update on the line to view the Queen's coffin as of 2:06pm on Thursday.Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport/Twitter

The line is predicted to reach five miles long.

Members of the public stand in the queue on the South Bank of the River Thames, alongside Tower Bridge, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London on September 15, 2022.Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images

One mourner said the Queen represented 'ultimate girl power.'

A woman wrapped in the Union Jack came to pay her respects to Queen Elizabeth II lying in state.Alia Shoaib/Insider

Strangers came together to watch the Queen's coffin procession.

Amatullah Hameed (center) in a group of people watching the live stream of the Queen's coffin procession on an iPad.Alia Shoaib/Insider

The city was well-prepared for the large crowds.

Ambulances on standby and portable toilets.Alia Shoaib/Insider

A 73-year-old woman said the Queen was a "reassuring presence" throughout her life.

People lined up to wait to pay their respects to the Queen.Alia Shoaib/Insider

There was a heavy police presence around Westminster.

Police officers patrolling Westminster, in central LondonAlia Shoaib/Insider

Parts of Westminster were cordoned off.

Parts of Westminster were cordoned off as people queued to visited Queen Elizabeth II's coffin.Alia Shoaib/Insider

The streets were packed with people eager to pay their last respects to the beloved queen

Members of the public join the queue on Westminster Bridge as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Lying-in-State in the Palace of Westminster in London on September 14, 2022.Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

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