UK: On Wednesday, as the Queen's body lay in London's majestic Westminster Hall, the first members of the public - some in tears - flew past.

In the hours before the late monarch's funeral on Monday, a line of mourners stretched for five kilometers (three miles) through the British capital.

Many people stopped and bowed or leaned in the direction of the coffin. Some people crossed their arms or took off their caps. Others wiped their tears with tissues as they prayed towards the coffin.

The line, which could be up to 16 km long, was only a third of its capacity as Westminster Hall was opened to the public (10 mi).

Administrative assistant Vanessa Nathkumaran, 56, originally from Sri Lanka, was the first member of the public to pass by the coffin, after spending more than 48 hours on the banks of the River Thames.

An earlier short Anglican service from the public part of the lay-in-state is followed by a procession of parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Liz Truss, dressed in all black and bowing as he crosses the coffin.

Before the coffin was placed on a platform guarded by soldiers inside the most historic part of Parliament, King Charles first led his family in a procession behind a mounted gun carriage carrying the coffin.

The King, his siblings, and Princes William and Harry followed the gun car at a speed of 75 steps per minute. The Imperial State crown-topped coffin passed in front of a standing crowd on the route, with Big Ben taking its toll every minute.

The funeral of Britain's longest-reigning monarch will take place on Monday, marking the end of an intricately choreographed 11-day national mourning period, with a grand procession through the flag-lined center of London. started with.

The sight of the new king's two distraught sons inevitably brought back memories of 1997, when William and Harry, who were only 15 and 12 at the time, followed the coffin of their mother, Princess Diana, with their heads bowed. .

But after Harry moved to the United States, his once close brothers are now separated.
The public has been warned that waiting in lines several kilometers long will be an endurance test.

Around 8.20 a.m., hundreds of people were already lined up, having previously spent the night with blankets, camping chairs, tents and rain ponchos.

After missing the Queen's coronation in 1953, 85-year-old Brian Flatman, who was in line earlier that day, declared there was "no way" he would miss the opportunity to pay his respects.

I was 16 when we arrived at Hyde Park Corner, which was in a great location. However, soon after that, I suddenly fell ill and had to crawl to South London.

"There's no way I can remember this time. I'll give a brief tribute [by casket] to his life of service. What an example.

The government has implemented strict rules and airport-style security measures as "far more" people are expected than the 200,000 people who were filed behind the Queen's mother's coffin in 2002.

Even cheap hotel rooms in the British capital cost £300 (US$350) a night, and police and transport officials are under pressure to keep the city safe and move even in emergency situations.

The newly appointed head of the London Police Force, Mark Rowley, told Sky News that the challenge was "a great challenge for the Metropolitan Police and for me personally, but we have been preparing for many, many years."

The day has been declared a public holiday in Britain, and the Queen's funeral will take place in Westminster Abbey, next to Parliament, in front of 2,000 VIP guests.

Russia, Belarus and Myanmar have not been invited to send representatives, despite the fact that hundreds of heads of state and government as well as international royalty are expected.

The presence of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, French President Emmanuel Macron and US Vice President Joe Biden have been confirmed.

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