The staggering stats for Queen's funeral: 5-mile queues, 30-hr waits, a million mourners and London to be declared FULL
EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM: Mourners can pay their last respects to the Queen Elizabeth II in Edinburgh. Her Majesty's coffin arrived on Sunday, September 11 at 4.00 pm BST, at the Holyroodhouse Palace, the official residence of the monarch in Edinburgh, Scotland. From there, her body will be transferred to St Giles' Cathedral, in a procession with King Charles leading the Royal Family behind the Queen’s coffin on Monday, September 12.
According to officials, the Queen's coffin will be closely guarded and the queue could last for hours. Any form of photography and videos are prohibited. Moreover, the unsuitable weather conditions may pose a problem to those waiting in line to catch a final glimpse of Her Majesty. As per tradition, members of the Royal Family will be taking turns to stand guard in the 'Vigil of the Princes.'
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Upon arrival at the historic St Giles' Cathedral, the Crown of Scotland will be placed upon her coffin. There, she will lie-in-state for a day for the public to pay their respects one last time. People are expected to turn up in huge numbers, with crowds already thronging streets of the city when the Queen's body arrived at Holyroodhouse Palace. According to the BBC, a service will be held for the Queen from 3.00pm to 5.00 pm BST before being on display for the public on Monday, September 12.
As per the US Sun, Robert Aldridge, the Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, said, "The news of Her Majesty The Queen's passing has been met with great sadness around the world and has been greeted with an outpouring of emotion that reflects how highly regarded she was at home and abroad." He added that he had been "preparing to warmly welcome King Charles and Royal Family members and of course to express deepest sympathy on behalf of the city."
He was aware that tens of thousands of people will be arriving to bid goodbye to the monarch, with millions more viewing the live broadcast coverage. "I believe Scotland can take real pride that Her Majesty cherished her time here and now the eyes of the world will be upon the Capital as we unite in national mourning and herald our new King," he said, adding, "This is a time for our communities to stand together and for people to reflect on our shared history."
People from across the globe can visit the cathedral. "Edinburgh's Books of Condolence have been opened online, at Central Library and across the city for citizens and visitors to pay their respects," said Aldridge.
According to BBC, after 24 hours in Scotland, the coffin be transported to London, where it will first travel to Buckingham Palace, where it will be met King Chales III and Queen Consort Camilla, and subsequently to Westminster Hall. The coffin is slated to arrive by 7.00 pm BST but due to possible delays in public transport, people have been warned that they may need to wait for hours if not overnight in order to catch a glimpse of the coffin. As per the same article, the coffin will then make its way to Wesminster Hall after 2.00 pm BST on Wednesday, September 14 and the lying-in-state will be from 5.00 pm BST the same day to 6.30 am BST on Monday, September 19, which is the day the Queen will be finally laid to rest. The place will be open 24 hours in those times.
While the Queen is in the lying-in state period, the coffin will be placed on a raised platform called a catafalque inside Westminster Hall. Draped in the Royal Standard with the Queen's symbols, the orb and the sceptre, on top, a vigil of soldiers will guard each corner of the coffin around the clock. The soldiers will be from units in the Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Household Division, or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
A ceremonial procession will happen on Wednesday afternoon when the coffin is transported to Westminster Hall. Common public can view the procession from the ceremonial viewing areas on the route or from a stipulated screening spot in Hyde Park
During the time that the Queen's body will be reposing in Westminster Hall, up to a million people are expected to offer tributes and pay their regards. As per The Sun, the estimated number of visitors is five times more than the 200,000 people who went to see the Queen Mother in 2002. According to The Mirror, queues in London are expected to last well over 30 hours and could stretch for over five miles, according to Cultural Secretary Michelle Donelan. Sources 750,000 mourners or "maybe more" were expected to converge at the spot. The government is bracing for London to become “full” for the first time. A total of 1,500 soldiers have been deployed to aid the stewards in directing the queue, along with 10,000 police officers. The start of the queue line was set up by 7.00 am BST on Monday, September 12.
For the convenience of the public, the route to the hall and the areas surrounding the lengthy queues will have a number of portable loos and water refill stations scattered all over. Provisions have also been made for any medical emergency that may arise. The nearby Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals have been prepared and medics will be at standby in case any mourner is in need of medical attention. Those hoping to catch a glimpse must keep in mind that they will face a strict, almost aiport-like security check and nothing bigger than a small bag will be allowed per person.
