Thousands of soldiers in ceremonial dress gathered at Buckingham Palace in the early hours of the morning for the dry run. The Queen’s coffin will arrive in London from Scotland on Tuesday night and will lie in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace overnight before being moved to Westminster Hall from Wednesday. A rehearsal for Queen Elizabeth’s coffin took place at 4am on Tuesday Credit: Danny Lawson/PA The group makes their way down The Mall in a night rehearsal for when the coffin will be carried from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall Credit: Carlos Barria/Reuters The early morning rehearsal saw the carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery being driven along the route. A black coffin was placed in the gun carriage and, at about 4 a.m., the procession was ordered to march and the carriage, drawn by seven black horses, made its way through the Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Courtyard. Many of the streets of central London were sealed off for the massive operation. The actual procession starts at 2.22pm on Wednesday and will last 38 minutes. The carriage made its way through the streets of Westminster Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Soldiers marched from Big Ben to Westminster as part of the dry run Credit: Danny Lawson/PA The black coffin placed in a carriage Credit: Danny Lawson/PA King Charles III, members of the royal family and senior staff of the Queen’s and King’s households are expected to walk behind the coffin. The rehearsal, which took place before the sun rose, saw people standing for them. Given the time, only a few spectators were present for the military spectacle, with some being there by accident. Ceremonial troops march from Buckingham Palace to The Mall Credit: Carl Court/Getty However, a small group camped outside Buckingham Palace. John Lowell, from Streatham, south London, said he was “devastated” at the news of the Queen’s death, adding: “We are all heartbroken. I can’t accept it.” His friend, Sky London, told the PA news agency that they have been camping since Thursday “to get a good picture of things” and insisted they will not leave until after the funeral so they can pay “respect”. He added: “Ten days (camping) against a reign of 70 years is just a fraction.” Early morning rehearsal for the procession of Queen Elizabeth’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, London Credit: Danny Lawson/PA People have been warned not to wait or camp along the route where the Queen’s coffin will be taken to lie in state. Viewing areas along the route with limited capacity will open at 11am. of the day, with people admitted on a first-come, first-served basis amid expected long queues, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said. The Queen’s coffin will remain in Westminster Hall until Monday, when it will be taken in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral. Guards march from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster during a rehearsal for tomorrow’s ceremonial procession Credit: Carl Court/Getty