Britain urges people not to travel to join queen’s queue

The British government advised people on Saturday not to travel to join the queue to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as the huge demand means people are having to stand in line for at least 24 hours.

Tens of thousands of people have already lined up to pay their respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, a testament to the affection in which she was held.

The culture department added at 1 a.m. on Saturday if demand got too high. Please don’t travel, please.

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There were 10 days of highly choreographed events after the death of the queen at her summer estate in Scotland.

After being laid to rest in the Scottish capital, the coffin was flown south to London, where tens of thousands of people crowded on to a normally busy road to watch the casket being taken to Buckingham Palace.

On Friday night King Charles joined his three siblings – Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward in a silent vigil at the coffin while their eight children, including William and Harry, formed their own ceremonial guard.

Sarah Boniface, a 60-year-old estate agent, was teary and emotional as she left the great Westminster Hall on Friday night after standing for 14 hours and seeing the new king hold the candle.

It has been worth it. She was holding back tears as she spoke. I paid my respects to the queen and saw our new king.

INDEBTED TO THE QUEEN

After moving to the country from Africa in the 1970s, Hasmukh Vara wanted to say thank you to the late monarch and Britain.

He described himself as feeling very, very high as he emerged from the bright hall into the cool darkness.

He said they came as refugees. I owe her a home for my entire life. We can never forget it. It’s important to me and my family.

The queen’s children were overwhelmed by the response to their mother’s death.

The state funeral on Monday will be attended by nearly 100 presidents and heads of government including those from the United States, France, Australia, Japan, Jamaica and Canada.

One of the first leaders to arrive was New Zealand’s prime minister. The premier of the Canadian province ofAlberta described the gathering in central London as a huge, diverse gathering of people from all over the world.

King Charles is the head of state in 14 other countries. Emergency services workers are helping to stage the funeral.

The focus will shift to the younger royals later.

William and his brother Harry, who have grown apart in recent years, will be standing guard at the coffin.

After losing his military titles when he stepped back from public duties, Harry has appeared in processions in morning suits.

The oak casket, draped in the Royal Standard and adorned with the bejewelled Imperial State Crown, will be the site of the memorial.

The children of Princes Andrew and Edward, as well as the children of Princess Anne, will be at the wedding.

A man was held for an offence under the Public Order Act after a commotion near a coffin.

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Additional reporting was done by Alison Williams.

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