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Queue tracker live: Mourners warned ‘do NOT travel’ after line to see Queen lying in state hit 25 hours

MOURNERS were warned not to travel to see the Queen lying in state until further notice this morning.

Wait times stretched to more than 25 hours overnight as thousands braved cold temperatures to see Her Majesty's coffin in Westminster Hall.

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Mourners line the banks of the Thames at dawnCredit: LNP
The queue for the Queen's lying in state in Southwark, south LondonCredit: Rex
Crowds have flocked to London to pay their respects to the late QueenCredit: LNP
Mourners wrap up warm as temperatures plunged overnightCredit: LNP
Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the Queen's coffinCredit: Reuters

Officials were earlier forced to pause the line after it was announced that Southwark Park - the back of the mega five-mile queue - had "reached capacity".

Entry later resumed, but at about 1.15am, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) online tracker urged Brits not to make the journey.

Those already in line were warned to brace for chilly weather, as temperatures dipped below 7C in the early morning.

Undeterred, a steady stream of people joined the queue, many wearing coats and jumpers and wrapped in blankets.

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Tatie Kirst, 38, a project manager who had just joined the queue, said: "I think I'm prepared, I brought my good coat, I have a stool if I need to sit, I'm getting food and water, and we're going to walk the way.

"I think there is always a question, 'is it worth it? Can I make it?' And hopefully, yes.

"I wanted to be part of this, pay my respect to the Queen."

At 5am, the DCMS said the queue was at "near total capacity" and may be paused again if it becomes full.

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But as of 9am, the expected wait time fell to 16 hours.


It comes as...


Since Wednesday afternoon, crowds have been flocking to London to pay tribute to the late monarch - despite being warned of lengthy waits.

They have been slowly shuffling along the south bank of the Thames to get a glimpse of her coffin.

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In a bid to get through the giant queue quicker, officials introduced double lines on either side of the coffin to ferry through even more mourners.

How long is the queue to see the Queen lying in state?

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin travelled to London from Scotland by royal plane on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.

Thousands have joined the queue in central London to see the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall, which is open 24 hours a day ahead of the funeral on September 19.

Currently, the queue snakes all the way from Westminster to Southwark, with estimated wait times of 16 hours.

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