Queue for lying in state closes after UK holds minute's silence
Decision taken to close entry to queue permanently after it reached capacity before Monday's funeral
www.theguardian.comI don’t have live access to current news in this turn, so I can’t verify the latest updates about the Queue for the lying-in-state of Elizabeth II right now. If you’d like, I can summarize what is historically known about the queue and suggest reliable places to check for the most recent developments.
Brief background (historical context)
- The queue to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II as she lay in state at Westminster Hall attracted widespread public attention in September 2022, with long wait times that at times exceeded 20 hours and queues stretching for miles. This event was closely tracked by BBC News and other outlets, and there were official “queue trackers” to inform the public about current wait times.[3][4][5]
- The lying-in-state period ended ahead of the state funeral, with the queue closing once capacity was reached on multiple occasions and wait times fluctuating due to crowd management and weather considerations.[5][9]
Where to check for the latest
- BBC News live coverage pages on the Queen’s lying-in-state typically provide minute-by-minute updates, including current queue length, estimated wait times, and any changes to entry policies.
- Official UK government pages (Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) often publish due dates, queue status, and safety advisories during periods when the queue is active.
- Reputable international outlets (BBC, Reuters, AP) maintain dedicated live blogs or segments during major royal events and can confirm any changes to access or closure times.
Would you like me to pull a concise, current update from reliable sources and include direct citations? If you enable it, I can fetch the latest information and present a brief, cited summary.