How to View Queen Elizabeth Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall
Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrived at Westminster Hall on Wednesday and mourners now have the opportunity to pay their respects to the late monarch, who died in Scotland on September 8 aged 96.
Members of the public can view the Queen’s coffin 24 hours a day until the hall closes at 6:30am local time on Monday, the day of her funeral, according to UK officials’ instructions.
Viewing queues stretched for miles and the UK government set up a live queue tracker to monitor the crowds.
During the lay period, the Queen’s closed coffin is draped with the royal standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown (which was worn by Queen Elizabeth at her coronation and at State Openings of Parliament) and a wreath of white flowers.
DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The coffin is displayed on a catafalque, or raised platform, in Westminster Hall. Royal guards are placed at each corner of the platform. Mourners will pass by the catafalque to pay their respects.
British officials also warned that participants must go through airport-style security before entering the building.
Can not get enough PERSONS‘s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Nariman El-Mofty/AP/Shutterstock
On Wednesday, the late Queen’s coffin traveled in a solemn procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
The procession included their four children – King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – and several of their grandchildren, including Prince William, Prince Harry and Peter Phillips.
Brother Prince William, 40, and Prince Harry, who turns 38 on Thursday, walked side by side. Peter walked between the brothers at the funeral procession for their grandfather Prince Philip in April 2021.
RELATED VIDEOS: Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrives at Buckingham Palace as the royal family gather privately to pay their respects
Also present were Princess Anne’s husband Sir Tim Laurence, the Queen’s cousin Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and the Queen’s nephew David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon.
Prince Harry and Prince Andrew wore morning suits, while others wore military uniforms, as it was announced earlier this week that only working members of the royal family would wear military attire for events surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. The two men wore military medals on their suits – Prince Harry served 10 years in the British Army while Prince Andrew spent 22 years in the Royal Navy, serving as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War in 1982.