People still have a chance to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin at Westminster Hall until 6:30 a.m. local time on Monday morning. Then the so-called “Lying In State” ends and the official funeral gradually starts.
By tomorrow at the latest, Sunday, it will therefore be almost impossible to pay one’s last respects to the deceased queen. As the “Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport” reports, trips to the queue should gradually be stopped. Queuing is repeatedly stopped on site in order not to exceed the capacity limits of the “queue”. Unsurprisingly, another queue forms, waiting to join the actual procession.
“The Queue” is so extraordinary that it already has its own track. There you will learn that the maximum length is 15.9 kilometers and that it is already being checked whether this phenomenon is a world record.
More than 1000 folders, police officers and helpers
To ensure that everything runs smoothly while waiting, 800 security officers, numerous police officers and hundreds of volunteers are on duty. Along the way there are toilets, restaurants and small street stands that provide those waiting with everything they need.
+++ Also read: Twelve hours for the Queen: star footballer David Beckham turned in half a day +++
Still, queuing is a real ordeal. The queue is not covered, people are defenseless against the weather. Luckily the British weather is being kind these days, there have already been worse autumn weeks in the capital.
By the way, it is forbidden to bring tents or large bags. Some people bring small camping chairs with them, but this should certainly prove to be a hindrance due to the constant movement of the snake.
But although there are almost endless people crowding central London, the feedback has been surprisingly positive. British media keep talking to those waiting, most of whom see the long queue as a respectful act for the Queen and feel a kind of togetherness that apparently makes the trip to Westminster Hall bearable.
Two incidents, hundreds of circulatory problems
So far, only two noteworthy incidents are known to have come from the “Queue” environment. On Friday, the “” reported that a man sexually molested two women before jumping into the Thames to escape. The police managed to arrest the man.
The same applies to the incident at Westminster Hall on Friday night, in which a man tried to get to the Queen’s coffin. In just a few seconds, he too was caught and removed.
As for the health of the people in line, the “” speaks of 435 health incidents and 42 people who had to be hospitalized. In most cases, these were circulatory problems, which were followed by an abrupt fall to the ground.
+++ Also read: The British – the world champions in line +++
After all, umbrellas can probably stay at home for the rest of the waiting time: the coming days will be sunny or slightly cloudy, and the weather services do not expect precipitation until the middle of next week. However, a jacket is still a must: the maximum temperatures when “lying in state” will not exceed 20 degrees.
Source: Stern
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
