The line will start on Albert Embankment, next to Lambeth Bridge, before heading down the River Thames to Southwark Park – a distance of over four and a half miles. Members of the public will pass famous landmarks during their wait including the London Eye, the National Theatre, Tate Modern and HMS Belfast. Earlier in the week, officials announced what items people could and couldn’t bring with them. Now, more information has been released, with hundreds of thousands of mourners expected to pay their respects. New details include: • Additional toilets and water fountains along the route • Southbank Centre, National Theatre, cafes and local businesses extending opening hours to provide refreshments • More than 1,000 volunteers, flight attendants and police officers will be on hand • BFI Southbank will have an outdoor screen to show archive footage of the Queen Queen dies – breaking news: Coffin arrives in London as crowds line streets in rain The Queen will lie in state from 5pm on Wednesday. Guests have been warned of long queues and there will be strict baggage restrictions. Those waiting in line will be given wristbands with their queue number – allowing them to leave temporarily to use nearby portaloos or buy supplies. Regular updates on queue length, estimated waiting time and when it will close will be provided on government social media accounts. The Queen’s coffin will be moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday, where it will be raised on a casket and draped in the Royal Standard, with the Orb and Scepter placed on top. It will be guarded by a vigil of units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London, and from 5 p.m. on Wednesday mourners will be able to come forward to pay their respects. The entire route has step-free access. However, a separate accessible route will start from Tate Britain, where timed entry places will be issued for those who need it. When the queues reach the front, they will head across the bridge and into Victoria Tower Gardens, before going through airport-style security to enter the Palace of Westminster. It will remain at Westminster Hall until 6.30am on the morning of her funeral on Monday 19 September, and the doors will remain open to the public 24 hours a day at that time. Image: The Queen’s coffin was returned to London on Tuesday night “Individuals wishing to attend the lying-in state, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions, are encouraged to check the guidelines, plan accordingly and be prepared for significant waiting times, possibly including overnight,” the government guidance said. “Members of the public are also asked to check for travel updates, plan their journey and check times for the latest services. People should also check the list of prohibited items, as certain items and large bags should to be left in a luggage compartment which has a limited capacity.’ Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other official assistance dogs will be allowed in Westminster Hall and British Sign Language interpreters will be available. Additional benefits along the way An army of 1,000 dedicated volunteers – including more than 100 Scouts – flight attendants and Metropolitan Police officers will be on hand to help, and extra facilities will be placed along the route, including toilets and water taps. But make the most of it when you see them, as logistics staff told Sky News they were worried there wouldn’t be enough, saying: “There will be queues within queues to get to the portaloos. “There can be a lot of crossed legs. I would advise people to have very little fluid. It’s a practical matter.” Image: Signs for the queue route started to be installed on Tuesday morning – Photo: Faye Brown St John Ambulance will also operate eight stations along the route to provide first aid if needed, as well as emotional support from the Samaritans and the Salvation Army. There will be welfare support from the Red Cross and Lambeth Palace will also arrange a multi-faith chaplain service. Some venues that the public will pass through, including the Southbank Centre, National Theatre, BFI Southbank and Shakespeare’s Globe, will extend their opening hours around the clock to offer refreshments and toilet breaks for queues around the clock, while other local businesses are expected to take part. And the BFI will have an outdoor screen showing archive footage of the Queen throughout her reign. For those unable to attend Westminster Hall, Sky News will provide coverage throughout. “He sacrificed so much for this country” Before the queue route was even announced, people had scrambled to find the route to get an early start on their wait. James Russell, 45, from Waltham Forest, came prepared with sandwiches, pasta, water – and a portable chair. He doesn’t expect to get much sleep at night – but says it’s worth it to secure his first place in line. “I’ll stay up all night if I have to,” he told Sky News. “I saw her mum lying in state, I was here when Diana died. “I’ve lived in London all my life and I love the Royal Family and what it brings to the country.” Image: James Russell made sure to bring a folding stool for waiting in line to start – Photo: Faye Brown Chris Imafiden, 60, from Essex began his wait at 9am on Tuesday and packed some pastries and drinks to tide him over. He will campaign overnight but is not worried about getting cold or hungry, telling Sky News: “I am ready. No sacrifice is too much for the Queen, she has sacrificed so much for this country.” Mareian Kaewthong, 51, who lives in Wrexham, started queuing a few hours later and while she brought some snacks, there is no main meal in her bag. “I didn’t come here to eat, I came here to see the queen,” he told us. “I don’t want to miss the chance to see her, she was the best person ever.”
