A MILLION mourners are expected to visit the Queen’s coffin during her four days lying in state.
The figure is five times more than the 200,000 people who paid respects to the Queen Mother in 2002.
Some 200,000 people visited the Queen Mother’s coffin in 2002
Thousands of mourners have already been paying respects at royal residences, such as Windsor Castle
And two million people are expected to gather in London’s streets every day until she is laid to rest.
The Queen’s body will lie in state for four full days from arriving at Westminster Hall on Wednesday until the morning of her funeral.
Details on how to attend will be released in the coming days but it is expected to operate on a first come first served basis.
A Whitehall source told The Times: “We will open the queue and control it through the normal way.
“It is like trying to organise something on a similar scale to the London Olympics in a matter of days.”
Soldiers and possibly members of the Royal Family will guard the coffin around the clock .
Prince Edward the King Charles both had turns guarding the Queen Mother’s coffin.
Foreign dignitaries are among those expected to visit Her Majesty.
Today the Queen will be moved from Balmoral Castle to Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh as she begins her final journey.
She will then travel to St Giles’ Cathedral with King Charles III and the Queen Consort tomorrow, when Scots can pay their respects.
Princess Anne will accompany her body from Edinburgh Airport to RAF Northolt on Tuesday evening.
It will be driven to Buckingham Palace before a procession on Wednesday taking it through London’s streets to Westminster Hall.
It comes as…
- Charles was today officially proclaimed King in a historic ceremony
- The Queen’s funeral date was confirmed
- Prince William released a heart-warming tribute to his “grannie”
- Royals including Princess Eugenie were brought to tears as they looked at tributes left to the Queen in Scotland
- Meghan and Harry joined William and Kate to speak with mourners at Windsor
- The Duchess of Sussex hugged one young woman who gave her condolences
Her Majesty will lie in state for four full days until 6.30am next Monday, the day of her funeral.
Yesterday the King was officially declared monarch in an historic ceremony.
He paid tribute to his mother for giving “an example of lifelong love and of selfless service” and vowed to follow her lead.
His Majesty told the Accession Council: “My Mother’s reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion.
“Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life.”
The ancient ceremony was televised for the first time and ended with trumpeters playing the national anthem.
The King was then driven back to Buckingham Palace past cheering crowds.
Her Majesty’s body will leave Balmoral Castle tomorrow
King Charles was formally declared monarch today
