“I think it’s quite a mark of respect, the amount of people who are committed to being patient and queuing,” one volunteer queue steward told BuzzFeed News of the massive queue. “Even if it rains, I hope they’re still here.”
Kate Fryer, a National Health Service worker who traveled from Kent, bravely battled her own and bad hip for five hours on duty.
The 44-year-old, who is supported by a walking stick, praised organizers for making the grueling process as accessible as possible for those with mobility issues.
“They’re very good. It’s very well organized,” he told BuzzFeed News.
When they reach the end of the line, mourners enter a solemn scene in Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s coffin lies in state, surrounded by a ceremonial guard with a glittering crown.
The BBC’s livestream shows queuers standing in silence next to the coffin. Some bow, some cry, but all feel a sense of history that is hard to explain to those in line.
