Officials close off entry to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin after line reaches 5 miles

Officials have closed off entry to the line to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin at Westminster Hall after the queue of well-wishers surpassed 5 miles.

The line to view the queen lay in state, referred to as “The Queue,” began forming on Monday, days before her coffin arrived at Westminster Hall on Thursday. Officials have confirmed the line is at least 5 miles long, although it could actually be longer due to an uncounted portion of the queue where people have gathered in a zigzag formation.

© Provided by Washington Examiner People queue near London Bridge to pay their respects to late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State, at Westminster Hall in London, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. The Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before her funeral on Monday Sept. 19. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Emilio Morenatti/AP

BRITAIN’S CHANGING OF THE GUARD

The queue stretches from Westminster Hall located in central London all the way to Southwark Park, according to a government tracker. Those near the back of the queue have been told they could be standing in line for up to 14 hours before reaching Westminster.

Officials with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport, which is responsible for managing the queue, warned early Friday morning that entry to the line may be temporarily blocked “if it reaches capacity.” Less than an hour later, the department announced at 9:50 a.m. local time that people would be blocked from joining the line for six hours.

© Provided by Washington Examiner People stand in a queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the lying-in-state, in Southwark park in London, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. The Queen will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before her funeral on Monday Sept. 19. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Nariman El-Mofty/AP

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The queen will lie in state for four days until 6:30 a.m. on Monday when she will be moved for her funeral, scheduled to be held on that day. The funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey, and the queen will be buried at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, marking the end of the 10-day mourning period commemorating the queen’s reign.

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Tags: Queen Elizabeth II, Royals, News, United Kingdom, London

Original Author: Cami Mondeaux

Original Location: Officials close off entry to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin after line reaches 5 miles