Mourners have been warned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) not to attempt to join the queue at Southwark Park in south-east London until around 4pm on Friday at the earliest.
The coffin, which sits on a catafalque and is draped with a Royal Standard, continues to be guarded at all hours by units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
The call was made as the official estimate for queuing time reached at least 14 hours, before a warning was also issued about long wait times at the “very busy” accessible queue.
However, there was some confusion on the ground as hundreds of people continued to file through the gate into the park, with one attendant saying they had yet to receive an order to bar entry.
The DCMS had tweeted: “Southwark Park has reached capacity. Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
“Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.”
13. Members of the public in the queue on Lambeth Bridge
Members of the public in the queue on Lambeth Bridge, London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. By 10am on Thursday, the queue was around three miles long and stretched past London Bridge to HMS Belfast. Photo: Jacob King
14. Members of the public in the queue on the South Bank near to Tower Bridge
By 10am on Thursday, the queue was around three miles long and stretched past London Bridge to HMS Belfast. Photo: Aaron Chown
15. Members of the public in the queue on the South Bank near to Lambeth Bridge
Members of the public in the queue on the South Bank near to Lambeth Bridge, London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. Picture date: Thursday September 15, 2022. Photo: Jacob King
16. Members of the public in the queue on Lambeth Bridge
By 10am on Thursday, the queue was around three miles long and stretched past London Bridge to HMS Belfast. Photo: Jacob King