Lying in state opens as thousands queue to see Queen Elizabeth II's coffin

Thank you for following our coverage today. We will be back tomorrow from 5am with more updates.

Campaigners say the queuing system has shown a "breathtaking lack of awareness" around disabled people's needs.

Disability Rights UK chief executive Kamran Mallick said: "We welcome the potential of shorter waiting time slots and a shorter distance to queue for disabled people, but there is still a breathtaking lack of awareness around the needs of disabled people."

While Government guidance says food or drink taken inside the Palace of Westminster would be confiscated, the charity said there has been no confirmation for a medical exemption.

Mr Mallick added: "This is a big concern as many people need these to take vital medication."

It also pointed out that the bag drop point is on the other side of the River Thames, around 20 minutes' walk away from the accessibility kiosk at Tate Britain.

It said there "would still be time" for the Government to introduce festival-style Changing Places toilets closer to the accessible route.

An emotional Vanessa Nanthakumaran, 56, from Harrow, was the first person to process through the hall to pay her respects to the Queen, writes Olivia Rudgard. 

She arrived at the queue at lunchtime on Monday, camping overnight beside the river for two nights.

Speaking after she left, she told The Telegraph:  "When the door opened I thought: 'this is happening, now'.

"I went into the hall and down the stairs. It was really moving. As I was going past I did a curtsy and prayers in my heart for her to be at peace, and I thanked her. Which I am very happy about. It was a very strange feeling that I was leading the crowd. 

"It was very sad, very sad. I didn't know what to expect - I didn't know the plan, how it was going to be. The guards were showing us where to go. It was a sad experience. 

"I always wanted to go down and go past the coffin and say the prayers. The crown jewels were beautiful, the flowers were beautiful. It's hard to believe that she's gone. 

"I'm pleased for us that they let us do this, what we wanted to do. I'm really happy that I did that. This was a unique moment, and it's a great feeling to be part of the historical moment. Worldwide people are watching. 

"You'll see me crying as I go past. It's difficult to think that she's gone."

Members of the public spoke of the “overwhelming and humbling experience” of viewing the Queen’s coffins as they left Westminster Hall, writes Gurpreet Narwan.

 Some were reduced to tears while others were quiet and reflective as they left the building.

Lord Sterling of Plaistow, 87, was one of the first few people to leave the building. He said: “I've had so many emails from overseas from friends who say this is a very, very sad day.

"I say, In a way it’s sad but when you’re 96 and you’ve had a full life, it’s a life to celebrate.. And I think that that is exactly how people will be feeling.”

Visitors were forced to camp out overnight to be the first to see the coffin.

Richard Arindop, from East London, said: “I’m 68 and she was my Queen. When she was crowned, 500,000 television sets were sold because something called television was very new then.

"When she died, we were in the age of the mobile phone and the computer. That's the kind of range she had. I retired at 65 and hadn't retired at 96.

"So I came to say goodbye, pay my respects and, in the words of Paddington Bear, to say thank you for everything.”

Alison Lamont and Mary Lock, travelled from Norfolk on Tuesday evening and managed to get in line at 8pm. Ms Lamont said: “It’s a moment in history. It's been amazing”. She described the moment she saw the coffin as “overwhelming and very humbling.”

PM Liz Truss, and Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and other party leaders attended a reception for the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall this afternoon.

The King is to have a private day of reflection after a momentous period that saw him become monarch.

Charles has returned to his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire and is not expected to attend any public events on Thursday.

In the detailed planning for the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth II's death - known as "London Bridge" - a day was set aside at this point for the new monarch to have some time away from public duties.

The period will allow the King to pause, but it is understood he will be working in preparation for his new role and will already be receiving his red boxes of state papers.

The new monarch led the royal family in a public display of homage to the late Queen by walking behind her coffin with his siblings, sons and other relatives as it was carried into Westminster Hall, where it will lie in state until the state funeral on Monday.

Fashion designer Elaaheh Jamali, emigrated from Iran in 2000, said she wants to “go and pay my respects” to the late monarch while she lies in state in Westminster Hall, writes India McTaggart.

She said: “We are living in England freely because of the fact that the Queen was so open to all nations and created a culture of openness and oneness amongst the different cultures in England - she made the UK home for us.”

She added: “I definitely want to go and say thanks and wish all the best for the next monarch.

“I also love how as a woman who lived almost a century she was in a constant mode of learning and change, she was a huge inspiration for me.”

Ms Jamali told The Telegraph that she was “already emotional” before going inside to see the Queen, adding that she was “so shocked” at the news of her death.

“She’s always been a constant and has been such an inspirational character”.

The late Queen's youngest grandchild 14-year-old James, Viscount Severn and his sister Lady Louise Windsor, 18, whose father is Prince Edward, look emotional during a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin at Westminster Hall today.

The late Queen had a "great affinity" to armed forces young and old, said the national president of the Royal British Legion.

Lt General James Bashall CB, CBE said: "She was the most wonderful and kindhearted and supportive patron that we were fortunate to have for 70 years."

He added that the "well-briefed" monarch and Prince Philip would correct members of the armed forces on their dress, and said: "She had a great affinity for veterans across all generations."

The Musicians' Union has urged Transport for London (TfL) to lift a busking ban during national mourning for the Queen.

The MU called for nearly 40 TfL pitches in 25 underground stations to be reopened immediately.

It said in an open letter: "The MU is saddened by the news of the death of the Queen and joins the country in paying its respects.

"However, we would encourage TfL to reverse this decision immediately, not least due to the impact it will have on the livelihood of its licensed buskers.

"The reason given for the suspension is that stations will be busier than usual.

"However, the suspension of the whole scheme would include pitches that are not at risk of overcrowding, and it would therefore make sense to only suspend pitches that are at risk of overcrowding, as we understand has happened in the past.

"Furthermore, we are advised that busking was permitted during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations and was carried out without any incident or problem whatsoever."

The MU noted that the national lockdowns had a "devastating impact" on musicians and said those it had heard from were worried about losing further income during the cost-of-living crisis.

Sir Mike Penning, the MP for Hemel Hempstead was among around 150 MPs invited by the Speaker of the Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to attend the Westminster Hall ceremony.

The former Armed Forces minister, who was a Grenadier Guardsman, pointed out that a number of the pallbearers would have been relatively new to the armed forces - making the military precision with which they carried out their duties all the more impressive. 

"Some of them will have only just come out of basic training. You could tell they were rookies because they don't have many medals yet. They have done the Queen proud - as have all the armed forces personnel who have taken part in this week's events".

Describing watching the procession as “emotional” but added that it “felt respectful”, social worker Sarah Murray said the late Queen's death "really resonated" after losing both her grandmother this year, writes India McTaggart.

Sarah and her mother arrived at The Mall at 6am this morning from North London. She said: “It felt like we’ve lost something very special and that she’s actually gone…today really made it hit home.

“Seeing the coffin and the crown on the top, it just felt empty.”

Ms Murray added: “It’s been a long couple of years of loss for us all, I’ve lost my two grandmas this year as well so it really resonated.

“I think the Royal family have done her a really big honour in allowing us the people to enjoy the moment and take part, I feel now like I’ve paid my respects.

“I’m glad I lived in a reign of a Queen because they are very few and far in between, it’s a huge loss especially as a woman. She’s been a strong woman who has stayed constant and who has been reliable. 

“She united, and over the last week everyone has united and joined together, even the silence in the crowd seemed so respectful.”

Speaking about the Duke of Sussex’s return to the UK for the mourning period, she said: “I really hope they can find a way to manage their rift.

“Family rifts as we all know, can be tricky situations to combat but you have to live and learn and I really hope that they manage to heal and develop some bridges and just become family again, to forgive each other.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, are to stand vigil over the late Queen's coffin on Thursday afternoon, writes Simon Johnson.

Both UK Cabinet ministers are members of the Royal Company of Archers, the sovereign's bodyguard in Scotland, which also watched over the coffin while it lay this week in St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

They are expected to stand vigil between midday and 6pm in 20-minute stints.

Mr Wallace, a former Tory MSP, was an officer in the Scots Guards and saw service in Northern Ireland, Germany, Cyprus and Central America.

A former Regimental Lieutenant Colonel Coldstream Guards said his fondest memories of the Queen was when she invited his unit for lunch in 2019 after she met then US President Trump.

Brigadier Greville Bibby described her as a "very human human-being" and said after the meal the 20-strong group went into a drawing room for coffee where he was next to Her Majesty for 20 minutes.

"She just hosted President Trump which was fascinating and I must admit once I started to relax I got a bit cheeky and I asked her if she had a mobile phone and she wasn't a great fan of mobile telephones I can tell you that much."

Kate Middleton has been seen wearing diamond and pearl leaf brooch which once belonged to the Queen.

A complete set of Westminster Hall was used to rehearse the Queen's coffin procession, former Black Rod Lieutenant General David Leakey has said.

He told the BBC: "We've rehearsed it a lot, every year there is a rehearsal of some sort including a complete built up set in Westminster Hall, so a lot of detailed work by a lot of people."

He added: "Over the seven years that I was black rod, I had no idea how many times we rewrote the plan.

"It has to be rewritten all the time because Westminster Hall has been the subject of refurbishment and repairs.

"Every time a contract is let, for example, the builders who come in to do some work, there's a stipulation that they have to get their scaffolding down and make good and get out within six hours."

Sir David Attenborough, born two-and-a-half weeks after Her Majesty, has reflected on footage of the snaking crowds in London.

He told the BBC: "At the moment, it's a moment of sadness and thanksgiving, and solemnity."

Asked for his thoughts on the procession as it made its way to Westminster, he added: "I suppose there are things that words won't do, won't carry, but actions carry and actions symbolize.

"And it symbolized dignity profundity and responsibility, and that life actually has a serious side and it was thoroughly expressed by tens of thousands of people, shared by them all and to that extent made more impact on the rest of us."

At 3.30pm on the dot, a clamour of excitement ripples along the great snaking queue. "We're moving!" bellows a steward, writes Jack Rear.

Shrieks. Cries of delight. The orderly queue is on its feet at once and moving. It's not quite a jog but people are moving determinedly. No one wants to lose their place. A power walk, shall we say. 

Unfortunately, the weather is rather nicer than many queuers will have expected when they left home this morning, and as we come to stop again by the steps up to Lambeth Bridge, there are a few grumbles about feeling a little bit sweaty. 

Still, there's a mournful kind of excitement in the air. We've been waiting since early this morning and are finally getting closer to being able to pay our respect. The energy is tense, almost nervous, as some queuers wonder exactly what will be the best way to offer their respects to our late Queen. 

The King stopped to speak to the Archbishop of Canterbury as he left, with Archbishop Justin Welby nodding as he greeted Charles, with the pair sharing a few words.

The King saluted as he departed, with the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, who is in overall charge of the ceremonial arrangements including the funeral, nodding and smiling in response.

Princess Michael of Kent was seen holding a stick as she stood in Westminster Hall.

A woman who gave her name only as Carol, 79, flew to London from Rome to make sure she could attend the procession of the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

Carol, who has lived in the Italian capital for the last 50 years, said: "I wanted to be here for this historic occasion."

She added that she had seen the Queen once during her lifetime, as a young child when the monarch and Philip visited her birthplace of Leeds shortly after their marriage in 1947.

An 85-year-old woman sat out all night to see the Queen lying in state on Wednesday - and almost missed her place in line, writes Olivia Rudgard.

Truus Nayman, 85, went home at 6.30am to change her soaking wet clothes and was denied access when she returned shortly before 11am by stewards.

Her fellow queuers tried frantically to reach her as stewards moved down the line with golden wristbands guaranteeing entry later this evening.

But they were told she would have to join the back if she missed the moment.

Eventually a wristband was found and she was told she could enter in her original place, leading to tears of joy from her new friends. 

“I’m so relieved, I can’t tell you,” she said. 

Four officers from the Household Cavalry - two from the Life Guards and two from the Blues Royals - began the first six-hour vigil around the coffin, taking their places at the corner of the catafalque.

A double tap on the floor from the stick of the Officer of the Watch, who has command of the rotations, signalled the start of the vigil.

The soldiers had processed down the steps into Westminster Hall ready for their duty.

They navigated the route carefully in their cumbersome uniforms of breast plates, plumed hats and swords, taking a pause before each step.

By the time the procession started, a reverential hush had descended on Whitehall after hours of chatter about Her Majesty, writes Dominic Penna. 

A few of those who could get any phone signal watched the start of events on their mobiles, while others began to film minutes in advance as they did not want to miss anything.

When the time came there was still a muted atmosphere, but this gave way to applause when the coffin and Royal party arrived.

“Three cheers for the King — hip hip, hooray!” was overheard as Charles III passed, and there was further applause outside the Palace of Westminster as events came to a close.

Mourners soon began to trickle out of the area, although movement was very slow on Birdcage Walk where there was a long wait to be let out of fenced areas.

By the time the procession started, a reverential hush had descended on Whitehall after hours of chatter about Her Majesty, writes Dominic Penna. 

A few of those who could get any phone signal watched the start of events on their mobiles, while others began to film minutes in advance as they did not want to miss anything.

When the time came there was still a muted atmosphere, but this gave way to applause when the coffin and Royal party arrived.

“Three cheers for the King — hip hip, hooray!” was overheard as Charles III passed, and there was further applause outside the Palace of Westminster as events came to a close.

Mourners soon began to trickle out of the area, although movement was very slow on Birdcage Walk where there was a long wait to be let out of fenced areas.

The latest from Jack Rear in the lying in state queue.

Though we're still not moving in the queue down on Belvedere Road, don't think for a moment that us queuers are missing all the action going on in the Mall. 

Up and down the queue, strangers are clustering around phone screens and iPads to live-stream the procession. I wonder if this is what it might have felt like when communities were gathering together in front of the one television on the street to watch the Queen's coronation back in 1953. 

It's clearly emotional viewing for some. I've seen quite a number of tears as the pomp and pageantry of the British royal family is on full display. 

"It's our nation's history, happening right in front of us," I've just heard a mother telling her small daughter in reverential tones, wiping a tear from her eye. 

During the service, the senior royals stood in formation facing the coffin on its purple-covered catafalque, which was flanked with a tall, yellow flickering candle at each corner of the wide scarlet platform.

The King and Queen Consort stood together a metre or so apart, with the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence behind them, then the Duke of York alone, and in the next row the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Behind them were the Prince and Princess of Wales, with the Duke of Sussex behind William, and the Duchess of Sussex directly behind Kate.

The Cross of Westminster was placed at the head of the coffin.

The Royal family have left Westminster Hall. 

The King was seen exchanging brief words with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

He and the Queen left in the royal Rolls Royce and departed the Palace of Westminster for Clarence House.

The queue of mourners waiting to see the late monarch lying in state has stretched beyond Blackfriars Bridge and has reached the Tate Modern gallery.

A distant thumping of drums and the sound of trumpets could be heard from half the way down The Mall as the procession started from Buckingham Palace, writes India McTaggart.

Silence fell over the crowd as they watched in awe and sadness the final time the late Queen would leave her home.

Christian Lorentz, who lives in San Francisco, said he felt “privileged” to be able to see the procession from The Mall today.

“It was incredible, we have nothing like this in the US,” he told The Telegraph.

The 42-year-old added:“There’s a collective sense of national unity to pay homepage to Her Majesty.”

When asked about seeing Harry and William walking together he said: “I hope the rift is healing. They are family and they are there to represent the British public. 

“This is the occasion, the death of their grandmother, where they have to make amends in some way. 

“They have to make amends not just this week, but going ahead into the future.

“They should raise their children together and be not just brothers, but friends.”

US President Joe Biden has spoken to the King to convey "the great admiration of the American people for the Queen".

A White House statement said: "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with King Charles III to offer his condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

"The President recalled fondly the Queen's kindness and hospitality, including when she hosted him and the First Lady at Windsor Castle last June.

"He also conveyed the great admiration of the American people for the Queen, whose dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

"President Biden conveyed his wish to continue a close relationship with the King."

The Queen's coffin entered Westminster Hall as the choir of Westminster Abbey and the choir of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, sang Psalm 139.

The King and the senior royals saluted the coffin as it was carried by a bearer party - eight soldiers from Queen's Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards - into the Hall.

Lined up to watch were the Queen's elderly cousins Prince Michael of Kent and the Duke of Kent.

Next to the Duke of Kent was the Duchess of Sussex, the Countess of Wessex, the Princess of Wales and then the Queen Consort.

Dozens of wider members of the royal family stood in two rows at the side of Westminster Hall, including Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and their husbands, Zara and Mike Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor Viscount Severn, Lord Freddie Windsor and Princess Michael of Kent.

Meghan appeared to take a deep breath as the Queen's coffin passed in front of her.

Now, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster, read out the prayers.

O merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life; in whom whosoever believeth shall live, though he die; and whosoever liveth and believeth in him shall not die eternally; who also hath taught us (by his holy apostle Saint Paul) not to be sorry, as men without hope, for them that sleep in him: we meekly beseech thee, O Father, to raise us from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness; that, when we shall depart this life, we may rest in him, as our hope is this our sister doth; and that, at the general Resurrection in the last day, we may be found acceptable in thy sight, and receive that blessing, which thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce to all that love and fear thee, saying, Come, ye blessed children of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world: grant this, we beseech thee, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our mediator and redeemer. Amen.

As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Archbishop of Canterbury also read out the first reading. 

From John 14: 1-6, he said: 

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, has read out the opening prayer. 

He said: 

O God, the maker and redeemer of all mankind: grant us, with thy servant Queen Elizabeth, and all the faithful departed, the sure benefits of thy Son's saving passion and glorious resurrection; that in the last day, when all things are gathered up in Christ, we may with them enjoy the fullness of thy promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Queen's coffin has been placed on the catafalque in Westminster Hall to lie in state until Monday morning.

Royal family members saluted as they made their way past the Cenotaph while the Duke of Sussex bowed his head.

The Duke of York turned his eyes to the right to look upon the Cenotaph as the procession made its way past.

The Queen's coffin has arrived at the Palace of Westminster.

The coffin was brought into the estate via the Carriage Gates entrance and passed through New Palace Yard, which features at its centre a fountain to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

Reminders of the Queen's long reign feature all around New Palace Yard.

In addition to the centre-piece fountain, two lampposts stand marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the outdoor area is overlooked by the Elizabeth Tower in one corner, which was previously called Clock Tower but was renamed for the Diamond Jubilee.

The crowd broke into applause as the coffin passed under Big Ben, and down towards Parliament Square.

In a separate car to the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex, the Queen and the Princess of Wales departed Buckingham Palace. 

Our writer Eleanor Steafel is at the procession for us.

Central London has fallen silent. A hush has travelled through the crowd from the Victoria Memorial right up to Horse Guards Parade as the procession begins its journey. 

Thousands of mourners have been waiting since early this morning, lining the route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, hoping to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin and the Royal family. 

The waiting crowds will be able to hear the procession before they can see it. A steady drum beat and solemn music is accompanying their Majesties up the Mall. 

A number of people could be seen wiping away tears as the Queen's coffin made its way down The Mall.

Members of the public held up their phones to film and take pictures of proceedings, with a number standing on their tip-toes to catch a glimpse of the procession.

As the procession made its way into Horse Guards Parade, the gathered thousands erupted into a round of applause. 

A combination of celebration and grief in the air as the late Queen makes her final journey from Buckingham Palace.

The procession has made its way to Horse Guards Parade. 

 The Queen Consort, The Princess of Wales, The Duchess of Sussex and The  Countess of Wessex depart from the Grand Entrance, Buckingham Palace for the Palace of  Westminster by car.  

The royals moved in time to the imposing funeral marches, in step with one another and the troops.

William stared straight ahead as he processed directly behind his father the King, in keeping with his place as the new heir to the throne.

Charles, in his Field Marshal uniform, held onto the end of his Field Marshal Baton, which was presented to him by his mother when he became Field Marshal in 2012.

In a touching moment, the coffin passed by the bronze statues of the late Queen's father George VI and her mother, the Queen Mother.

The Imperial State Crown was the crown the Queen wore when she left Westminster Abbey after her coronation.

It was also used on other State occasions, including the State Opening of Parliament.

Made of gold, it is set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and four rubies.

It contains some of the Crown Jewels' most famous pieces including the Black Prince's Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire, and the Cullinan II diamond.

In a BBC documentary in 2018 about her coronation, the Queen amused viewers by manhandling the heavy crown, pulling it towards her, turning it round and declaring: "This is what I do when I wear it."

"I like the Black Prince's Ruby," she added.

The coffin was borne on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery - poignantly used for the coffins of the late Queen's mother and father.

Known as the George Gun Carriage, it carried King George VI from Sandringham Church to Wolferton Station after his death in 1952 and was used in the funeral of the Queen Mother in 2002.

The Gun Carriage has six 13-pounder quickfire guns, built between 1913 and 1918, all of which have seen active service in the First and Second World Wars.

They are used regularly for royal salutes in Hyde Park, Green Park or Windsor Great Park for State Occasions and to mark royal anniversaries and royal birthdays.

Each gun and limber weighs 1.5 tons and, with the team, is approximately 54 feet long.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex are walking behind the coffin of their late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Both brothers are joined by the King, as the late monarch is driven up The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

The scenes are a poignant reflection of 25 years ago, when as children they walked behind the coffin of their mother, the late Princess of Wales, Diana. 

• Read more here.

King Charles, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex appeared solemn as they walked behind the coffin.

The sun shone as the procession moved onto The Mall in central London and members of the crowd threw yellow roses into the road as the gun carriage passed them.

Silence fell among the thousands-strong crowd as a muffled drum draped in black was beaten at 75 paces per minute.

The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard, with the Imperial State Crown on a velvet cushion with a wreath of flowers atop, and carried on a gun carriage of King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

The Band of the Scots Guards and the Band of the Grenadier Guards are playing funeral marches throughout the procession, starting with Beethoven's Funeral March No.1.

The pace and route have been carefully mapped out to allow the procession to reach Westminster Hall at precisely 3pm.

Directly behind the coffin walked the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, followed by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon were behind.

The Princess Royal is wearing Royal Navy full ceremonial uniform in the rank of  Admiral.

HRH is wearing the following full-size medals:

• Queen’s Service Order
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
• Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Royal Navy)
• Canadian Forces Decoration
• Order of St John Service Medal
• New Zealand 1990 Medal

The Princess Royal will also wear a decoration of a Garter star and Garter sash.

The Earl of Wessex is in his Blues Uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal  Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.  

Decorations:

• Garter Star and Sash

Medals:  

• Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
• New Zealand Medal
• Canadian Forces Medal  

The Duke of York is wearing morning suit with medals and decorations:  

• Order of the Garter Star
• South Atlantic Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
• Royal Navy Long Service Medals with Bars
• Canadian Forces Decoration with Bar
• New Zealand Commemoration Medal

He has been denied the right to wear military uniform after being withdrawn from official royal duties.

The Prince of Wales is in his RAF No1 uniform, Garter Sash with RAF Pilot Wings and  Garter Star Chest Order. Medals:

• Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
• Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The King is in full day ceremonial uniform with the rank of Field Marshal.

His Majesty is carrying his Field Marshal Baton, presented to him by his mother when he became Field Marshal in 2012.

King Charles is also be wearing the Order of Merit (neck decoration) with the Order of the Garter Sash and Star.

Medals:

• Queen’s Service Order (New Zealand)
• Coronation Medal
• Silver Jubilee Medal
• Golden Jubilee Medal
• Diamond Jubilee Medal
• Platinum Jubilee Medal (as of 2nd June 2022)
• Naval Long Service Good Conduct (LSGC) (3 x Additional Service Bars)
• Canadian Forces Decoration (3 x Additional Service Bars)
• The New Zealand Commemorative Medal
• The New Zealand Armed Forces Award

The first row is the Earl of Wessex to the left, the Duke of York next to him, then Princess Royal and the King to the right. Behind them is Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales.

And then a row consisting of Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon.

Then come members of the household of the former Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

The first row consists of the Master of the Household and the Principal Private Secretary, followed by the Equerry and Treasurer.

Behind them come the Dismounted Detachment of The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons), the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Mounted Metropolitan Police.

The Coffin is borne on a Gun Carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

The Bearer Party is made up of The Queen’s Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.  

An Escort Party of two officers and 32 Rank and File is made up of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Ten Pall Bearers are from Service Equerries to The Queen, both serving and former.

A guard of honour, not exceeding three Officers and 101 Rank and File with its colour draped and found by The King’s Guard, mounted on the paved area outside the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace in Queen’s Gardens facing West. No Band is present.  

A tri-Service Guard of Honour of three Officers and 53 Rank and File from each Service with Colours draped and accompanied by a Band of the Royal Marines with drums draped and muffled are mounted on the East Side of Parliament Square.

The King’s Life Guard is turning out in the Front Yard, Horse Guards and will give a Royal Salute to the Coffin as it passes. The Trumpeter will not sound.  

Queen Elizabeth's coffin is draped with the Royal Standard on which the Imperial State Crown sits on a velvet cushion and a wreath of flowers.

The wreath of flowers will include:  

1. White roses Spray white roses
2. White dahlias  
3. A selection of foliage - including pine from the gardens at Balmoral and pittosporum,  lavender and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor

At the front of the procession are the Mounted Metropolitan Police officers, followed by the Dismounted Detachment of The Life Guards.

Behind them are the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and then the Bands of the Grenadier and Scots Guards.

The next row consists of the ADC to the Major General Commanding, the Brigade Major Household Division, Field Officer in Brigade Waiting and the Silver Stick in Waiting.

Then comes the Major General Commanding the Household Division, followed by the household of Queen Elizabeth II.

These are Director of the Royal Collection, Controller Lord Chamberlain's Office, Master of the Household, and in the next line, Keeper of the Privy Purse and the Private Secretary.

Then we have the Master of the Horse and the Lord Steward, with The Queen's Page and the Palace Steward behind them.

Passing under the arch of Buckingham Palace for the very last time, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is carried out onto The Mall.

Minute Guns will be fired from Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Big Ben will also be tolled at one-minute intervals whilst the Coffin moves in procession to the Palace of Westminster.

To the sound of the Household Division, with their arms reversed in respect for the late monarch, begin marching out of the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Drum Major outside Buckingham Palace awaiting start of procession. 

Here's the latest from outside Buckingham Palace from Bryony Gordon.

The King’s guard has arrived as well as the carriage that will carry Her Majesty to Westminster Hall. You can hear a pin drop here on the Queen Victoria Memorial - that and the marching of guards, the crunch on gravel.

It is very moving - I am about 10 metres from the guards and have never seen anything like this in my life. To be so close is a great privilege. 

The Queen Consort has just arrived as well, in the royal rolls Royce. 

A funeral director has refuted suggestions he was trying to capitalise on the late Queen’s death with a business advertisement. 

Tim Purves, director of the funeral company William Purves, said he removed the company’s logo from the side window of the late monarch’s hearse "on the first possible occasion" as the cortege travelled south on Sunday. 

The advertisement could be seen as the hearse left the gates of Balmoral shortly after 10am, but had vanished by the time it arrived in Dundee at 3.15pm. 

By then viewers had clearly taken notice of the branding, which led to a flood of internet traffic that overwhelmed the funeral director’s website. 

Mr Purves said the sign was removed after the company became "increasingly aware of the attention our company was receiving which should, rightly, be directed to Her Majesty".

Invitations to the Queen's state funeral have not been sent to Syria, Venezuela or Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

While most countries around the world have been invited to send their head of state, those three countries join Russia, Belarus and Myanmar on the list of nations not asked to send a representative.

North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited only at ambassadorial level, joining Iran in that category.

Angela Lee, 60, from Darwen, has come to London especially having travelled last night. She has taken three days off work to be here, writes Dominic Penna.

“Oh god, she meant so much, I’ve grown up with her!” she said. “The first time I saw her was a photo in Hong Kong in my headmaster’s office when I was four. I came to England when I was eight and realised she was the Queen!

“I came overnight, I’ve been lucky to be able to get down early. It’s a sad loss, she was our great Queen — she was just a perfect human being. For the last week and half all I watched was documentaries and it made me feel even closer to her.”

She will also “absolutely” queue to see Her Majesty lying in state after the procession: “It’s the reason I’m here.”

Clarence House staff have come outside to watch the procession.

The crowd photographed and applauded them as the dozens of people - dressed all in black - stood just outside the gate.

All holders of the Victoria Cross or George Cross will be able to attend the Queen's funeral, the PA news agency understands.

From the Commonwealth realms, a country's prime minister plus a guest, the governor general plus a guest and the high commissioner will all receive an invitation.

They are also allowed to bring 10 people from their nation - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already said 10 Australians had been invited by Buckingham Palace for their "extraordinary contributions to their communities".

The Queen consort has just driven down The Mall in a Bentley to applause, cheers and waves from the gathered crowd, reports India McTaggart.

Excitement audibly building now as we get closer to 2.22pm. 

More from Camilla Turner:

Wristbands are being handed out to those already queueing, with a colour coded system for those wishing to leave the queue and come back again. The wristbands are being handed out in blocks of colour, so that anyone leaving the queue can easily see which section they need to come back to on their return. 

The wristband system has been designed so that people can leave the queue if they need to get some food or drink, have a brief rest or use a toilet. Government officials believe there will be an element of self-policing for this system to work, and are relying on people making friends with people around them in the queue who will let them back in again after they have left. 

Uh-oh, after some very British queuing this morning where everyone has been good-naturedly waiting in line, chatting to people, and offering a spirit of camaradie, a fight has broken out and a pair of police officers have been summoned, reports Jack Rear. 

A very sweary chap has been in the queue 5am or so he claims (spuriously, I might add, given he's in the queue behind me and I got here at 9.30am.) The woman he's arguing with, bearing a union flag, claims he hasn't been in the queue whatsoever and has just turned up. Thankfully the officers have prevented things from turning violent. 

I'm hearing rumours that the Archbishop of Canterbury has been sighted at the front of the queue, offering free pizza to those wishing to pay their respects. If he could make his way a bit further down, we might need some cool heads and wise counsel.

More from Camilla Turner.

Queue statistics:

In addition to police officers and army personnel managing the queue, there will also be:

• Over 1000 stewards, volunteers, marshals and police officers on hand at any one time
• 779 professional stewards per shift assisted by 100 civil servant volunteer marshals, 40 adult scouts, 30 members of the first aid nursing yeomanry 
• 10 members of the Red Cross per shift
• 30 Multi-faith pastors coordinated by Lambeth Palace per shift
• Six Samaritans per shift
• Two British Sign Language in the accessible queue

Overall the operation will involve 140 red cross volunteers, 120 scots, 170 from the Salvation Army, 180 Samaritans and 600 St Johns ambulance volunteers. .

There will also be over 500 portaloos along queue route

Those hoping to see Queen Elizabeth II lie in state in Westminster Hall face waiting in a ten mile long queue through central London, Camilla Turner reports. 

The queue will finish at Victoria Tower Gardens where security checks will be carried out, and will direct people south of the river for 6.9 miles to Southwark park, where there will be a further three miles of zig-zag queues in the park itself. 

If the full ten miles of queue is full of people, the entry to the queue will be temporarily paused to prevent the queue infrastructure from becoming overwhelmed. This means anyone who turns up at Southwark Park would be turned away and possibly told they can return later when there is more space. 

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, meeting members of the public in the queue on the South Bank near to Lambeth Bridge, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. 

Bryony Gordon reports from the Queen Victoria Memorial: 

The King’s guard has arrived as well as the carriage that will carry Queen Elizabeth to Westminster Hall.

You can hear a pin drop here on the Queen Victoria Memorial - that and the marching of guards, the crunch on gravel.

It is very moving - I am about 10 metres from the guards and have never seen anything like this in my life. To be so close is a great privilege. 

The Queen Consort has just arrived as well, in the royal Rolls-Royce. 

Crowds continue to build as the sun shines brightly on Whitehall with less than 45 minutes until the start of the procession, writes Dominic Penna.

Sat on a ledge as he waits for the arrival of the coffin is James Dowsett, 66, from Cambridge, who travelled into the capital by coach this morning.

“I’ve always loved Her Majesty Queen growing up, she’s always been there,” he said. “It’s an honour and a privilege to be here, I’m so glad I’m retired now and I’ve got the time to be here.

“She was like a mother and a grandmother to us all — old school, very firm principles, all about faith, she stuck to her word. It’s the end of an era.”

Mr Dowsett, who never missed the Queen’s Speech and told of how he would always make his children stand for the National Anthem, also divulged his own link to the late Queen.

“I was fortunate enough to ride one of her racehorses as a professional jockey and I rode one of her racehorses Insular. I was trained by Ian Balding, Clare’s father, in about 1984.”

An 85-year-old woman sat out all night to see the Queen lying in state on Wednesday - and almost missed her place in line, reports Olivia Rudgard. 

Truus Nayman, 85, went home at 6.30am to change her soaking wet clothes and was denied access when she returned shortly before 11am by stewards.

Her fellow queuers tried frantically to reach her as stewards moved down the line with golden wristbands guaranteeing entry later this evening.

But they were told she would have to join the back if she missed the moment.

Eventually a wristband was found and she was told she could enter in her original place, leading to tears of joy from her new friends. 

“I’m so relieved, I can’t tell you,” she said. 

The Prime Minister's official spokesman has said there are "no plans" to change the route of the procession, despite calls to lengthen it so that more people can pay their respects, reports Camilla Turner.  

Downing Street said the route has been "agreed with the palace in advance" and there are "no plans to change that", adding: "Obviously there are a number of procession routes that people can use, so we want as many people as possible to have sight of that procession."

A funeral directors trade body has said there is no blanket postponing of funerals due to be held next Monday in light of the Queen's state funeral and bank holiday.

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), which represents more than 4,100 UK funeral homes, said some services will go ahead on September 19 but others will be postponed.

The NAFD believes the "vast majority of family wishes are being honoured", based on conversations with members across the UK.

It said: "Although work is still ongoing, some funerals will go ahead, others are moving to a different date - led by the needs and wishes of the bereaved families involved.

"Most funeral services booked for September 19 will have been arranged many weeks ago, so funeral directors and cemeteries/crematoria are working with families to find the best approach for each one."

Latest from the queue from Jack Rear:

I made a pledge when I joined this queue that I wouldn't sit down until 1.30pm. Sit down, I thought, and I'll not get back up. Alas, after four hours of standing, it seems fatigue is starting to set in. 

Around me almost everyone is settling down onto the hard pavement. One of the rules is that cushions and camping chairs are banned from the Palace Of Westminster so it's the ground for us. I must admit, though my hiking boots are comfortable, my feet are starting to ache, so even the pavement is a welcome rest.

My queue-mates, Haley and Rachel are doing some stretches to get the blood flowing, while little Emily, just nine years old, is asleep on her mum's coat. 

But it's clear people are getting impatient. Bands of roving TV journalists are moving up and down the queue. A few hours ago, people were delighted to speak to Polish state television, Canadian journalists, and some who'd come from Australia. But I just watched a Times journalist attempt to make conversation with someone near me, only to be (rather rudely) snubbed. 

Around me people are beginning to try to calculate exactly what time we'll be in Westminster. My estimate is 8pm, though my queue-mates say that's youthful optimism and are preparing not to be anywhere close until midnight. 

Center Parcs has U-turned on its plan to ask guests to leave on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral "as a mark of respect".

The company was inundated with complaints after revealing that five of its parks would close for 24 hours from 10am on Monday to allow staff "to support our Queen on her final journey".

It said that guests would be forced to leave and spend the night elsewhere or go home early.

Customers reacted furiously, with one writing in response on Facebook: "We were five related families getting together for our annual family holiday - with two small children and two dogs, three hours from home! Where the hell are we supposed to go for one night?!"

Last night, Center Parcs has reversed its decision, saying that guests will no longer be ejected on Monday.

Mourners gathering in London to attend the procession of the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall should have a dry afternoon after a cloudy morning.

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said "early rain will clear to the south" by Wednesday afternoon, with the skies in central London "becoming brighter with some sunny spells".

She added that it would still feel humid, with a maximum temperature of 23C.

A new public square to honour Queen Elizabeth 11 in the centre of Sydney, has been criticised by a local Aboriginal councillor  as a "political knee-jerk reaction", writes Roger Maynard.

Yvonne Weldon, who is a City of Sydney councillor, said the decision to name the plaza after the Queen had been made too quickly. She claimed the decision had bypassed all the normal planning and naming processes and did not necessarily reflect the King’s views in such matters.

“I think in recognising the Queen, they’re actually defying the King and some of his views,” she added.

Ms Weldon, a Wiradjuri woman, had earlier called for a statue to be erected honouring a young Aboriginal woman, Patyegarang,  who shared her language and local knowledge with Lieutenant William Dawes, a British naval officer who arrived with the First Fleet in 1788.

 She suggested that by honouring a member of the royal family instead of an indigenous figure opened a “greater divide and a greater imbalance.”

Ms Weldon, who had met King Charles some years ago, recalled that he was “very interested in Aboriginal people, and recognising Aboriginal people, and in how we need to be more inclusive.”

“When you think about this area being named after the Queen – what connection is there to her?” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.The outdoor plaza, which will adjoin Sydney’s historic Hyde Park Barracks, will be named Queen Elizabeth 11 Place.

Jack Rearis in the queue for us.

As lunch time approaches, thoughts in the queue have turned to food. We've started swapping stories about what we've brought to eat today. There are strict rules that everything must be finished before we go into the palace so no one has brought too much. Except me, apparently… 

My local Tesco's fridge was broken last night so there wasn't a single sandwich or chilled meat to be had, so I've got a multi-pack of Quavers, Soreen malt loaf, a lot of chocolate digestives, and some Fox's biscuits. Thankfully my boyfriend has brought me a sandwich and some pork pies. So now I'm a bit over-prepared. 

A woman beside me says she had originally planned to come tomorrow but, mindful of the queues, decided to come down early. She has had to grab whatever was in the pantry: a bunch of bananas, half a bag of raisins, cashew nuts, ryvita, and a secret stash of marshmallows for energy. 

Someone else tells me they've got a few cheese and ham sandwiches, some cheese and onion crisps, and some all important Milky Way bars. 

Picnics are breaking out up and down the line with people sitting down and making friends with those around them. It's very heartwarming. We will see how long the good feelings last…

David Howard, who travelled to Buckingham Palace from Surrey with his wife Sue, likened the Queen to a swan - "always graceful on the surface, even if there were all sorts of thoughts and concerns underneath".

Mr Howard, 59, said: "The thing that gets me about her is that she didn't say anything to be popular, unlike politicians, and so when she did say things, there was a streak of authenticity and honesty, as well as through her actions and the way she lived.

"I think she read the mood music very well after Diana's death and realised things had to change.

"They became far more approachable and modernised, institutionally."

He added: "She was like that classic swan - graceful on the surface, even there were all sorts of thoughts or concerns underneath."

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Graham Jones, former senior director of music for the Household Division, said music will act as a "golden thread of history, heritage and tradition" during the procession for the Queen's state funeral on Monday.

He said: "We are not making anything up. This has come through the past and so if we go back to Queen Victoria's funeral and the music that was played and performed there, that was Beethoven's March, Chopin's March - they were played repeatedly. And then we move forward to the three kings, with King George VI, and of course here we are today."

Lt Col Jones said the funeral of Winston Churchill, the Queen's first prime minister, had also featured music by those composers, adding: "And those are the marches that are going to be played this year for Her Majesty's state procession through London.

"There's no change. There's no reason to change. It has worked perfectly well in the past."

More from India McTaggart.

George Lamplough, a former member of the Armed forces, travelled to Buckingham Palace from Staffordshire early this morning. 

Mr Lamplough, who worked in the Royal engineers for 22 years, said he felt it was important to “pay respects to my former boss”.

“She was such an inspirational figurehead, leader, icon, role model,” he told The Telegraph.

He added: “I would have loved to see her laying in state but this is the next best thing - to see the rest of the Royal family walking past too.”

Mr Lamplough has a front row view of The Mall and has been eagerly awaiting the procession since early Wednesday morning.

Our reporter India McTaggart is on The Mall for us.

The Mall is lined with crowds of people clutching flowers and flags and clamouring to the front of the steel barriers to get a good vantage point.

They are of course hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s coffin as it passes by this afternoon with members of the Royal family following in the procession.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police are out in force as they patrol up and down the street, occasionally being greeted with cheers from the excitable crowds.

The atmosphere is markedly more energetic than Tuesday evening, when people were waiting for the late monarch’s coffin to arrive at Buckingham Palace, which was sombre and dampened with rain.

Heathrow Airport flights have been cancelled so they do not disturb the Queen's coffin procession on Wednesday.

The west London airport said in a statement that "out of respect" for the mourning period it will be making "appropriate alterations to our operation".

These include flights being disrupted between 1.50pm and 3.40pm on Wednesday to "ensure silence over central London as the ceremonial procession moves from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall".

British Airways has cancelled 16 short-haul flights due to the airspace restriction. More flights are expected to be axed during the Queen's funeral on Monday.

Heathrow said: "Passengers will be notified by their airlines directly of any changes to flights.

"We anticipate further changes to the Heathrow operation on Monday September 19, when Her Majesty's funeral is due to take place, and will communicate those in more detail over coming days. We apologise for the disruption these changes cause, as we work to limit the impact on the upcoming events."

The Civil Aviation Authority has also imposed a restriction on airspace over central London which bans aircraft - including drones - flying below 2,500ft between September 9-19.

Judges will serve King Charles III with "the same commitment and pride" as they did the late Queen, the Lord Chief Justice has said.

Lord Burnett of Maldon, the most senior judge in England and Wales, paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in a statement issued alongside Sir Keith Lindblom, Senior President of Tribunals, on Wednesday.

They said: "On behalf of the judges and magistrates of the courts of England and Wales and judges and members of the United Kingdom tribunals, we have conveyed to His Majesty our most sincere condolences on the very sad death of our late sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

"The dedicated service given by Her Late Majesty as sovereign to her people and country, to her Realms and to the Commonwealth has been an inspiration to judicial office holders as they fulfil their duties in the administration of justice.

"At this time of great sadness, we trust that His Majesty will draw strength from the knowledge that Queen Elizabeth II was so greatly respected and admired by her subjects and by people throughout the world, so many of whose hearts she touched. The judiciary will continue to serve His Majesty King Charles III with the same commitment and pride as they did Her Late Majesty."

Our correspondent Olivia Rudgard is in the queue for us.

An 85-year-old woman sat out all night to see the Queen lying in state on Wednesday - and almost missed her place in line. 

Truus Nayman, 85, went home at 6.30am to change her soaking wet clothes and was denied access when she returned shortly before 11am by stewards.

Her fellow queuers tried frantically to reach her as stewards moved down the line with golden wristbands guaranteeing entry later this evening.

But they were told she would have to join the back if she missed the moment.

Eventually a wristband was found and she was told she could enter in her original place, leading to tears of joy from her new friends. 

“I’m so relieved, I can’t tell you,” she said. 

Crowds are already three or four people deep on the pavements either side of the road down Whitehall, writes Dominic Penna.

Families are keeping themselves busy and rested playing card games including Uno and sitting on picnic blankets or camping chairs.

Some mourners are sitting under closed bus stop shelters and others on concrete walls as they wait for their final glimpse of Her Majesty.

More from Jack Rear in the queue:

The plan is for the queue to move continuously with no time for anyone to sit down or stop: comfortable, sturdy footwear for rain or shine will be a must. Hence my hiking boots. Fearing the length of the queue, I got up very early and headed straight down to London Bridge.

Thankfully, though, I was able to walk most of the way down the South Bank before finding the start of the queue at Belvedere Place just behind Westminster Bridge.

I should be given a numbered and coloured wrist band which will allow me to hop in and out of the queue to make use of the toilet facilities, water bottle refill stations, and perhaps some food stalls as needed.

Frankly, I don't trust being able to get in and out easily so I've brought my own rations, scavenged from what I could find at my local Tesco last night: a Quavers multi-pack, a solitary chicken and bacon sandwich, malt loaf (for energy), chocolate digestives, and a litre bottle of water.

All will have to be scoffed before I reach Westminster as food and drink are banned inside. Somehow, over the course of the next eight hours, I think I'll manage.

Jack Rear is in the queue for us.

There's a funny, and possibly apocryphal, quote of Dolly Parton's that I've been thinking about this morning. The country singer, when asked about her appearance, said "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap".

Well to that I might add, it takes a lot of thought to look this incongruous. I arrived on the South Bank this morning wearing hiking boots, jeans, a long t-shirt  with a mournful black shirt over it and a puffy black jacket to join the queue to see the late Queen's coffin lying in state.

I had considered wearing a full black suit and tie but, upon reflection, decided to think more practically.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport, expects at its peak the queue will accommodate 400,000 people, stretching fives miles down the Thames from Westminster to Southwark park near Bermondsey.

Those who join at the back may find themselves queuing through the night, with a wait of up to 30 hours.

TfL commissioner Andy Byford said: "The most recent approximation or estimate is that there will be around potentially up to 750,000 people in the queue for lying in state, which is itself a huge number.

"But then if you take the whole 10-day mourning period and the various events that happen during that - obviously some happened elsewhere - but even the London element of that, we are talking well north of a million people.

"So this is huge. This is the biggest event and challenge that TfL has faced in its history, and we must rise to that challenge.

"The Olympics was a huge logistical challenge and operational challenge for TfL, which the company executed in magnificent fashion. But this is different.

"With something like the Olympics, you know what the events are, where they are, and you know what the numbers will be because it's ticketed.

"This is more challenging. It's over a long period and although there are estimates, it is impossible to say with certainty how many people will turn up to the various elements, so we've assumed the highest possible number and we're aligning our service to match that."

London Underground stations near Buckingham Palace have seen a surge in passenger numbers since the Queen died on Thursday.

TfL figures show more than 19,000 people started or finished journeys at Hyde Park Corner station on Tuesday, which was double the total on the same day last week.

Green Park has been made an exit only station to prevent overcrowding.

Across the Tube network as a whole, TfL recorded 2.99 million journeys on Tuesday, up 8 per cent compared with a week earlier.

Transport for London (TfL) is facing the "biggest event and challenge" in its history as more than one million people are expected to travel to the centre of the capital to pay their respects to the Queen, according to its boss.

Andy Byford, the organisation's commissioner, told the PA news agency that planning for the Queen's lying in state and funeral is more complicated than the 2012 Olympics as it is "impossible" to accurately predict crowd sizes.

TfL is "used to dealing with big crowds" and will take measures such as temporarily restricting access to the busiest Tube stations and directing passengers to other stations to "spread the load", he said.

Mr Byford added that the situation is being managed "minute by minute" from a command centre alongside other agencies and Government departments.

The King waved as he rode past thousands of well-wishers lining The Mall and into Buckingham Palace.

The crowd burst into applause and cheers as the state Rolls-Royce passed the Victoria Memorial and dropped the monarch off at the royal residence.

A source party to today’s Cabinet Office briefing has revealed that people waiting in the line to see the Queen have gone from 200  to 2000 in two hours, writes our Associate Editor Camilla Tominey.

Clearly Government officials are trying to balance the desire to accommodate as many well wishers as possible with a need to ensure that London is not completely overwhelmed with crowds. 

Church staff were shocked when a leaflet from George VI's funeral fell from a Bible before a service to mark the death of his daughter, the Queen.

St Genny's Church, near Crackington Haven, Cornwall, decided to use the King James Bible for Sunday's Evensong.

"No one could quite remember when the bible had last been used... but then the leaflet fell out the front," service leader Nick Danks said.

"It was just one of those wonderful moments that was meant to be," he said.

The front of the leaflet said it was "to be used in all Churches in England on the Day of the Funeral", which was on 15 February 1952.

No-one from the church could remember when the bible was last used.

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will travel to Britain to attend Queen Elizabeth II 's state funeral next week.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the Japanese government requested they accept the British royals' invitation to attend, considering the close relations between the two countries' royal families.

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor stays away from funerals whether at home or abroad because of a cultural belief based in the Shinto religion that considers death impure. The decision for Naruhito to attend the queen's funeral underscores the importance and the deep bond between the royal families.

Matsuno said Japan's imperial family has had close relations with Britain's Royal Family for three generations including Naruhito's grandfather, late Emperor Hirohito.

Hundreds of mourners gathered outside a cordoned-off Buckingham Palace on Wednesday morning, hours ahead of the Queen's coffin being transported to Westminster.

This appeared at a supermarket chain: 

Kush Sonigra, who lives in London, is spending his 24th birthday in the queue for the Queen's lying in state and hopes to make it back home in time for dinner with his family this evening.

After those waiting behind him in the queue sang Happy Birthday, he said: "Well, fortunately, from work I get the day off for my birthday, so I thought I'd get involved and see what the hype is about, get involved with the event."

He added: "There's a family dinner table so I'm hoping, depending on how late I finish here, I might be able to make it for that. Otherwise, we will postpone that to the weekend."

He said his mother "is a little bit upset that I'm missing the family dinner, but I think she'll understand".

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the Queen was a "legend" who "spoke not only to the heart of her nation but to the soul of the whole world".

In a major speech in Strasbourg, Ms von der Leyen said: "As we look around at the state of the world today, it can often feel like there is a fading away of what once seemed so permanent.

"In some ways the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last week reminded us all of that.

"She is a legend. She was a constant throughout turbulent and transforming events in the last 70 years, stoic and steadfast in her service. But, more than everything, she always found the right words for every moment in time.

"She spoke not only to the heart of her nation but to the soul of the whole world."

Former member of the Balmoral Guard Duncan Rasor, who met the Queen while serving in Scotland, wore his military medals and Glengarry headdress as he queued for the lying in state in London.

The 48-year-old served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders between 1997 and 2002 and wore a Northern Ireland medal and a Kosovo medal. He said: "I spent four months up in Balmoral valley and so I did get to meet the Queen and spend some time with her.

"So, from a personal perspective, I wanted to come and pay my respects for everything that she's done."

He described spending time with the royal family as an "extraordinary privilege" and added: "Even though they are on holiday up in Balmoral, they are still working, and it just never stops.

"I think that is something which is starting to become more apparent to people is quite how hard Her Majesty has worked for her entire life."

Joyce Dawson, 54, from Middlesbrough, has never visited London before, but said she was "inspired" to travel down for the Queen's lying in state after seeing the first people in the queue being interviewed on the TV news on Tuesday evening.

She said: "I texted my daughter and said 'We have to go to London tonight', so we're here.

"It was a spur-of-the-moment thing."

She and her daughter Shelby, 26, who has also never been to the capital before, got on the midnight coach from Middlesbrough and joined the queue at about 8am.

Joyce added: "It's just nice to be a part of this. It's exciting, I'm dead excited, I'm like a little kid."

Ex-head of the armed forces Lord Richards said the Queen usually knew at least as much as him in advance of briefings.

The former chief of the defence staff told LBC: "I had the privilege of having an audience with her at least twice a year, sometimes more, mainly to brief her on the state of morale of the armed forces, what we were up to, and including operational updates.

"And she usually knew at least as much as me in advance, but it was more her interest and very penetrating questions based, of course, on huge experience, including of World War Two.

"And like all good military people, she abhorred war as much as we do, knowing it should be an absolute last resort, and yet we were in a lot of conflict during her reign."

Suzanne Howell said a man who lives in a block of flats on the other side of the river had brought over camping chairs, a blanket and food.

Ms Howell said: "We were told that there would be like a million or millions of people expected and that it could be a 30-hour wait.

"So that's why I was saying I was so surprised when we arrived last night and we're in the 40s (in the queue). I thought this can't be the queue, I must be in the wrong place."

She added: "We haven't slept at all, but I don't feel tired.

"We're glad we did it, we've got no regrets."

Jacqueline Nemorin, Suzanne Howell, and Patricia King did not know each other before they joined the queue to attend the lying in state at the same time, at 6pm on Tuesday.

They are 44th, 45th and 46th in line.

Ms Nemorin said the wait overnight was "really terrible" due to the weather conditions, which she described as "raining cats and dogs".

She added that she managed "a little cat nap" at some point in the night, but her two new friends "didn't sleep at all".

They have been told that they will be allowed to cross Lambeth Bridge to do security checks at around 3.30pm, before being let into Westminster Hall to see the Queen's coffin.

Queen Elizabeth II was a "mother figure to the world" whose legacy inspired women globally, Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, said after Congress passed a resolution honouring the late monarch.

Ms Pelosi said the Queen had "touched so many people" in America as she presented a book of condolence to Britain's ambassador to Washington, Dame Karen Pierce.

Earlier on Tuesday, the US House of Representatives stood for a minute's silence to commemorate the monarch's death at the age of 96.

"Long live the King" rang out in the chamber afterwards. Members of the House passed a bereavement resolution by unanimous consent expressing its "profound sorrow of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II", before adjourning in a further mark of respect.

• Read the full story from Rozina Sabur here.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Sep 19 will be a holiday so that federal employees can mourn Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her state funeral.

Trudeau also said he's working with the provinces on a possible public holiday for other workers but Ontario and Quebec, Canada's two most populous provinces declined to make it a holiday.

"Ontario will mark September 19, 2022 as a provincial Day of Mourning in lieu of a provincial holiday. The people of Ontario may observe a moment of silence at 1:00 p.m. on that day," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault told reporters Tuesday that Monday also would be a day of commemoration, but not a public holiday in the French-speaking province. Saskatchewan will also not recognise the day as a holiday.

However, the British Columbia government said it will follow the federal government's lead. Provincial governments across Atlantic Canada have declared holidays including New Brunswick which will close schools and government offices. But the holiday will be optional for private-sector businesses and employers.

Manitoba will close all non-essential government services and offices for the day, but schools and child-care facilities will be open.

The late queen was the head of state for 45% of Canada's existence and visited the country 22 times as monarch.

Sir Keir Starmer said he will return to Westminster Hall later with his family to privately pay his respects to the Queen.

He told BBC Breakfast: "Today I'll be there as part of the reception committee to receive the coffin.

"Then later on this evening in a private capacity, because my wife and our children... they want to come in, and as a family we will then pay our own personal respects to a remarkable sovereign."

Chris Bond, from Truro, had attended the lying in state of the Queen Mother in 2002, and expected to have less of a wait to see Queen Elizabeth, after joining the queue at 7am on the other side of the Thames to the Palace of Westminster.

Mr Bond, wearing a black tie and jacket, said that in 2002, "I saw the procession pass by at Horse Guards Parade, and then by the time I made my way down, I actually started to queue right down by the Millennium Wheel and then took me six hours to progress from there."

"It was six o'clock when I walked into Westminster."

He added: "Obviously, it's quite difficult queuing all day long, but when you walk through those doors into Westminster Hall, that marvellous, historic building, there was a great sense of hush and one was told you take as much time as you like, and it's just amazing."

In preparation for the wait this time, Mr Bond had brought crisps, nuts and energy bars and bottles of water, and he said he was "well-equipped" for the duration.

He said: "We know the Queen was a good age and she served the country a long time, but we hoped this day would never come.

"But it has come, and I think undoubtedly she has been our most outstanding monarch."

Sir Keir Starmer said the country's response to the Queen's death has been "very moving".

He told BBC Breakfast: "It's a very human emotion, I think, where people just want to come, have that private moment where they say thank you to a remarkable sovereign.

"I think it's been very moving across the whole country. It's been quite an incredible moment where so many people have come together."

Sir Keir Starmer urged people wishing to protest to "respect" those mourning the Queen, and not "ruin" their opportunity to say a private "thank you" to the late monarch.

The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast: "The word I'd use around that issue is respect.

"I think if people have spent a long time waiting to come forward to have that moment as the coffin goes past or whatever it may be, I think respect that, because people have made a huge effort to come and have that private moment to say thank you to Queen Elizabeth II.

"Obviously we have to respect the fact that some people disagree. One of the great British traditions is the ability to protest and to disagree, but I think if it can be done in the spirit of respect.

"Respect the fact that hundreds of thousands of people do want to come forward and have that moment, don't ruin it for them."

Here is the Daily Telegraph this morning: 

Queen Elizabeth II’s loyal staff, some of whom had served her for decades, will today join the procession as her coffin leaves Buckingham Palace for the final time and makes its journey to Westminster Hall, reports The Telegraph's Royal Correspondent Victoria Ward:

Senior members of the Royal household will follow the coffin as the late monarch continues her journey with a poignant farewell to her official home.

While the late Queen employed many staff across her various residences, she had increasingly relied on a handful of trusted aides.

They included Sir Edward Young, her private secretary since 2017, and Angela Kelly, her dresser who had become one of her closest confidantes and lived at Windsor Castle.

Loyal staff will join members of the Royal family. Some will follow the gun carriage on foot, while others may travel behind by car before they join the short service at Westminster Hall.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II’s loyal staff to join coffin's procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster

One of Britain’s busiest railways is unable to lay on extra services to London this weekend as bosses grapple with a long-running industrial dispute.

Thousands of mourners from Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow who are hoping to travel to the capital for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral are facing disappointment from the fallout of a row over pay and working conditions on the 399-mile Avanti west coast main line.

Read the full story here.

Russia will not be invited to Queen Elizabeth’s funeral because of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, diplomatic sources have said.

The snub makes Putin’s Kremlin one of only three national governments banned from the funeral.

Read the full story here.

Mourners lining the streets of London to see the Queen's coffin are facing the strong possibility of heavy rain on Wednesday morning.

"(It) will be a rather wet start to the day on Wednesday – especially so in London where people may be queuing to see the lying in state throughout the day," BBC Weather's Simon King said.

That rain was expected to clear before midday though, and by the afternoon temperatures were expected to be between 18C and 20C and "quite pleasant".

Aa Met Office spokesperson said on Tuesday that high pressure would move through on Wednesday – with "sunny spells developing across the whole of the UK" by the afternoon.

The "settled, fine, dry" conditions were expected to last until the beginning of next week.

In darkness and pouring rain, wellwishers lined the streets of London last night in a show of respect and unexpected emotion to see the late Queen's return to Buckingham Palace.

Organisers say London Fashion Week will go ahead while observing "royal protocol" and including "our own moments of respect", following the death of the Queen.

LFW, which runs from September 16 to 20, will be an opportunity for the industry to celebrate the monarch's "legacy and commitment to creativity and design", organisers said.

All union flags will fly at half mast during the event and a minute's silence will be held at 8pm on Sunday.

There will be no shows or events on Monday, September 19, the day of the Queen's state funeral at Westminster Hall, in central London.

It comes as high-fashion brands including Burberry and Raf Simons announced they would be cancelling their shows at LFW following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

After days of mourning and commemoration, and his first visit to Northern Ireland as monarch, it was the last thing the new King needed, writes The Telegraph's Europe Editor James Crisp.

Having sailed through the delicate and tricky waters of Northern Irish politics with diplomacy and charm, King Charles III lost his cool.

The culprit was a pen that leaked in his hand.

"I can't bear this bloody thing... every stinking time," the King declared before walking away.

Read the full story here and watch the video below:

• The procession for the late Queen will leave Buckingham Palace at 2.22pm today and is expected to arrive at Westminster Hall at 3pm.
• A service lasting around 20 minutes will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury accompanied by the Dean of Westminster.
• Mourners have already joined the queue to attend the Queen's lying in state which begins at 5pm, continuing until 6.30am on Monday, September 19, the day of the funeral. Government guidance says the queue is expected to be very long, with people standing for "many hours, possibly overnight" and with very little opportunity to sit down.

 Read more details here.

King Charles III and his sons will walk behind the late Queen's coffin today as she leaves Buckingham Palace for the final time ahead of her lying in state.

The Royal family will accompany their matriarch on foot on the journey to Westminster Hall where hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects after queueing for hours.

The King, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex, along with the Princess Royal, Duke of York and Earl of Wessex, will form part of the procession on Wednesday afternoon.

Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips and her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will also walk in the procession, as will the Queen's cousin the Duke of Gloucester and her nephew the Earl of Snowdon.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex will travel by car.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, the Japanese Government said today, in their first overseas trip since assuming the throne in 2019.

Top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that the royal couple would attend, but Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other government officials would not.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern left for London today to attend the late Queen's funeral.

She will be in the UK with a delegation of compatriots "from different walks of life", including Maori king Kiingi Tuheitia.

Ms Ardern said this week that she believed her country would become a republic within her lifetime, but insisted that the change was not imminent.

READ MORE: New Zealand will become a republic ‘in my lifetime’, says Jacinda Ardern

Four leaders of Pacific Commonwealth nations will join the Australian Prime Minister at the late Queen's funeral.

Anthony Albanese said today that the leaders of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea had accepted Australia's offer of help with transportation to London.

The delegation, which is due to leave on Thursday evening, will also include Governor-General David Hurley as well as 10 Australian citizens "who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities".

In darkness and pouring rain, wellwishers lined the streets of London last night in a show of respect and unexpected emotion for Queen Elizabeth II, writes The Telegraph's Royal Editor Hannah Furness.

As the gates of Buckingham Palace closed, the Queen’s coffin was met by her children and grandchildren, gathering in the glow of the Grand Entrance to welcome her.

In a deeply private moment – their first opportunity to gather together since the Queen’s death – they paused their public duties for one evening only in simple, quiet remembrance.

On Wednesday, they will fulfil her wishes in a time-honoured tradition, walking behind her coffin in procession from the palace to Westminster Hall, where the coffin will be handed over to the public for a four-day-long lying in state.

READ MORE: London comes to a standstill for Queen Elizabeth’s final homecoming

• Queen Elizabeth II, who on Tuesday night left Scotland for the final time and returned to Buckingham Palace, was enveloped in cheers, applause and the glow of countless camera phones as she made her slow journey through the streets of London
• Around 100 members of staff at the King’s former household have received written notice of redundancies
• The Princess Royal said it had been “an honour and a privilege” to accompany her mother on her final journey
• One of Britain’s busiest railways is unable to lay on extra services to London this weekend as bosses grapple with a long-running industrial dispute
• Queen Elizabeth II’s loyal staff, some of whom had served her for decades, will on Wednesday join the procession as her coffin leaves Buckingham Palace for the final time and makes its journey to Westminster Hall
• The decision to deny Prince Harry the right to wear military uniform at events commemorating his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II cannot erase his decade of military service, his team has said
• The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be one of the largest diplomatic moments of the century
• The New York Times has published a news story critical of King Charles III, calling the monarch “disconnected” for enjoying tax privileges while the British public is “reliant on food banks”