The government announced Friday that it would have to temporarily stop new people from joining the line to see Queen Elizabeth II lie in state at Westminster Hall, which the British have affectionately dubbed "The Queue" and which has taken on a life of its own in recent days as thousands wait for a glimpse of the monarch's coffin.The official length of "The Queue," which started to develop on Tuesday before the start of the queen's lying-in-state period, is five miles, but in practice it is greater because of an uncounted stretch where it zigzags. According to a government tracker, it stretches all the way from Westminster Hall in downtown London to Southwark Park, a more than 60 acre public park in south east London. Wishers have been informed that they may have to wait at least 14 hours to enter Westminster Hall.
Early on Friday, the government body in charge of administering the line, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports, issued a warning that entrance would "be delayed if it exceeds capacity" at Southwark Park.
The entrance process will be suspended for at least six hours, the department announced at 9:50 a.m. local time, and cautioned individuals not to "attempt to join the queue until it re-opens."People who have gone near and far to pay their respects to the queen will undoubtedly be disappointed by the news.
According to Karla Adam of The Washington Post, sitting patiently in long lines is a technique that is only practiced in Britain, and it has its own set of guidelines: obtain a wristband with a number on it, and follow that number. Remain in the line. Avoid shoving or pushing. Never cut. Because it is a historic national event, people are lining up in the rain and cold for this particular line: The queen's laying in state will conclude at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, the day of the queen's official burial.
She will be buried at St. George's Chapel in Windsor after the burial, ending a 10-day period of national grief and ushering in a new era under the rule of her son, King Charles III. The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey.Queues are a British favorite. One for the ages resulted from the queen's passing.
The queen's grandchildren, including Prince William and Prince Harry, will have a 15-minute vigil alongside her coffin on Saturday night, according to a Kensington Palace official on Friday. At 7:30 p.m. local time on Friday, her children Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward will also have their own vigil alongside her casket. Following his return from Wales, Charles will also welcome religious leaders at Buckingham Palace on Friday.
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