The lineup to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II is growing by the hour and some are warning that there could be “horrible stories of suffering” for mourners who could wait upwards of 30 hours to file past the coffin.
The British government has told the public to “be prepared for long queues” and said they’re stationing thousands of security and support staff and volunteers along the kilometres-long line to help keep people safe.
The line to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is likely to be one of the longest that London has ever seen — authorities have planned for the lineup to stretch 16 kilometres.
Members of the public queue along the South Bank of the River Thames 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 Wednesday.
Odd Andersen / Getty Images
“Please note that the queue is expected to be very long. You will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down, as the queue will keep moving,” it warned on its website. “Please consider this before you decide to attend or bring children with you.”
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Local outlets estimate that anywhere from 400,000 to one million people could join the line in the hopes of filing past the queen’s casket in Westminster Hall, where she will lie in state until Monday’s funeral.
The estimated number of people expected in line is more than three times the number who came to see the Queen Mother after she died two decades ago.
Trying to prepare for this huge logistical ordeal, the government has made additional washrooms available, and will also be handing out food and drink to the waiting public. It has, however, asked that people make sure they bring enough sustenance and warm clothing for themselves.
