The UK is now in a period of national mourning following the death of Her Majesty The Queen on September 8, 2022.
According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Intricate plans had been drawn up for when Her Majesty sadly passes away, codenamed Operation London Bridge or Operation Unicorn in Scotland, that details what will happen following the monarchs death, including funeral plans.
The Queen's coffin was brought down to London from Edinburgh on September 13.
According to the detailed Operation London Bridge plan, she has now been transported from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in the capital, where her coffin will lie in state for four days from September 14.
As mourners wait to pay their respects to the late monarch, many are questioning how long the queue is and how long it will take to see the Queen's coffin.
How long is the queue to visit the Queen's Lying-In-State?
The government has released a live queue tracker for mourners to follow on YouTube.
According to the tracker, the queue is currently about 4.2 miles long and the nearest landmark to the back of the queue is Bermondsey Beach.
The spectacle began at 5pm on Wednesday evening, with crowds slowly filing past the coffin to pay their respects.
It’s expected that hundreds and thousands of people will come to see Her Majesty’s coffin in Westminster Hall over the next few days.
How long is the wait to see the Queen Lying-In-State?
One man who had finally reached the front of the queue told the BBC on Thursday morning that he had been queuing for eight hours.
However, mourners could expect to wait for up to 30 hours according to government officials, who have stated that the line will close if it becomes too busy.
The maximum length of the queue is 10 miles – with 6.9 miles from Westminster to Southwark and a three-mile slalom queue in Southwark Park.
The line is being staffed by 779 stewards, 100 civil servant volunteers, 40 adult scouts, 30 first aid nursing yeomanry, 10 Red Cross, 6 Samaritans, 2 BSL interpreters, 170 Salvation Army and 600 St John’s Ambulance.
How to join the queue
In order to join the queue to visit the Queen's coffin, mourners will need to check where the back of the line is online.
Those waiting in line will receive coloured wristbands so they can leave for a drink, food or to go to the toilet.
However, those waiting in line have been asked to not save a place for someone else, leave personal items unattended, or put up tents.
Where can I go to the toilet while queuing?
There are around 500 portable toilets at various points along the queuing route.
Local museums and venues – including Shakespeare's' Globe, the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and BFI Southbank – will stay open for extended hours or for 24 hours depending on the venue for people to use their facilities.
Local businesses like cafes and restaurants are also expected to open for extended periods.
Is there disabled access?
The line to visit the Queen's coffin has step-free access and there is a separate accessible route, for those who need it, which starts at Tate Britain.
Timed entry slots will be issued to join a queue along Millbank.
Step-free access is available to Westminster Hall for those who need it, and guide dogs and other assistance dogs will be allowed inside the venue. British Sign Language interpreters will also be available.
Parliament visitor assistants will guide wheelchair users and any people with mobility issues (and their carers) along a route to access Westminster Hall.
When will the queue close?
The Queen's Lying-in-state will conclude at 6.30am on Monday, September 19, which is the date of the Queen's funeral.
The queue for those wishing to pay their respects at the Lying-In-State will close early to ensure that those in line can visit the Queen's coffin before 6.30am.
Decisions to close the queue will be posted on government social media accounts.
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here
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