The British boast of making the most orderly queues in the world, but the one that awaits them to pay their respects to Elizabeth II at her coffin in London promises to test their patience.
The line of people parading before the queen at Westminster Hall in London’s Houses of Parliament is expected to move endlessly night and day, without interruption, and that the waits last for hours and hours, warned the British government.
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Those who participate will face security measures similar to those at airports and will have to obey strict rules, which include wearing appropriate clothing, not taking pictures or using cell phones.
They will be allowed to walk past the late monarch’s coffin – without stopping – from 5:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. GMT) on Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. on the morning of her state funeral on Sept. 19.
“Please note that the queue is expected to be very long. You will have to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down, as the queue will continue to move,” state government guidelines published on Monday.
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People visiting The late Queen lying at rest in St Giles’ Cathedral are bursting into tears.
These are the first of many hundreds of thousands of mourners to walk past the coffin. pic.twitter.com/pD4tmTWGej
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 12, 2022
People walk past Her late Majesty’s coffin and bow their heads.
Close to 1,000,000 people are expected to do the same until the date of the funeral next Monday. pic.twitter.com/uQZAR9geST
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 12, 2022
“Keep this in mind before deciding to attend or bring children.”
Some 750,000 people are expected to parade before the casket. The queue could exceed eight kilometers and the wait could reach 20 hours, the newspaper said. TheTimes.
The number of attendees will be “far higher” than the 200,000 who paraded before the queen’s mother when she died in 2002, spokesman for the prime minister Liz Truss said Monday, without wanting to give a more precise estimate.
Like her mother’s, Queen Elizabeth II’s closed coffin will rest on a raised platform known as a catafalque, with people lining up on either side to pay their respects.
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The rules
But getting to the coffin is likely to be an endurance test. The government advises attendees to wear “suitable clothing” based on weather conditions, including warm clothes or an umbrella if it rains, or sunscreen if it’s hot.
They are also advised to bring food and drinks to consume while waiting, because there will only be a few places to stock up along the route.
Also, it is recommended to bring a portable cell phone charger.
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Should people need to go to the toilet, they will be given wristbands that allow them to leave the queue for short periods, Downing Street said.
Fearing that people will try to camp while they wait, the government has also banned tents and “barbecues or fires”.
Details of the crowd tour will be released on Tuesday.
When they finally arrive at the Palace of Westminster, attendees will have to pass through an “airport-type security checkpoint”.
Afterwards, they will be provided with a bracelet that will allow them to enter the premises, which they must take off when leaving.
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Inside, they will have to comply with a long series of rules.
People must “dress appropriately” for the occasion and “respect the dignity of the event”, the guidelines state, adding: “Do not wear clothing with political or offensive messages.”
Only small bags will be allowed. Larger items will need to be stored in a locker but there is no guarantee that there will be room.
Flowers, cuddly toys and other tribute items are prohibited inside the building and will have to be left in a special area in Green Park near Buckingham Palace.
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Those hoping to record their moment with the body of Britain’s longest-serving monarch for posterity will also be disappointed.
“You cannot film, photograph or use mobile phones or other portable devices” inside the room, the rules state.
*With information from AFP
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