The final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, London, on Sept. 19.POOL/Reuters
At least 250,000 people joined the huge line to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lying in state for four days in London’s Westminster Hall at Parliament, an official said Tuesday.
The figure was released a day after Britain ended 10 days of national mourning for the late monarch, who died on Sept. 8 in Scotland at age 96 after 70 years on the throne. On Monday, hundreds of world leaders and dignitaries attended her state funeral at Westminster Abbey, and huge crowds thronged the streets of London and Windsor to bid a final farewell to their Queen before she was laid to rest in Windsor.
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said officials were still “crunching the numbers,” but estimated that about a quarter-million people joined the longest queue most have ever seen for a chance to file past the Queen’s coffin from Sept. 14 until shortly before her state funeral on Monday.
Many in the queue waited for up to 13 hours, braving the autumnal chill and spending entire nights shuffling for miles along the River Thames to pay their respects. The London Ambulance Service said staff and volunteers cared for around 2,000 people who lined up, and took 240 in for hospital treatment.
The Queen was interred late Monday alongside her late husband Prince Philip and her parents in Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel, a gothic church steeped in royal history for centuries.
King Charles III, left, watches as The Lord Chamberlain Baron Parker breaks his Wand of Office, marking the end of his service to the sovereign, during a committal service for Queen Elizabeth.Joe Giddens/The Associated Press
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The Imperial State Crown is removed from the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth during a committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.Joe Giddens/The Associated Press
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.RICHARD POHLE/Getty Images
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Royal Grenadier guards march towards Windsor Castle in anticipation of the arrival of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel.Kirsty Wigglesworth/Getty Images
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The Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel, in Windsor.Aaron Chown/The Associated Press
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Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as the Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel, in Windsor.Aaron Chown/The Associated Press
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The royal corgis await the cortege on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle.PETER NICHOLLS/Reuters
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is driven along the Long Walk in her State Hearse from London to Windsor towards her final resting place inside St George VI memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.POOL/Reuters
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The Royal Family walk behind the coffin as the Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth aboard the State Hearse, travels inside Windsor Castle.ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
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The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor.LEE SMITH/Reuters
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King Charles III, foreground, and his son Prince William, fourth from left, salute as Queen Elizabeth's coffin is transferred from a gun carriage to a waiting hearse at Wellington Arch in London.Andrew Testa/The New York Times News Service
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The Royal Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington Arch in London.David Ramos/AFP/Getty Images
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The Royal Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington Arch in London.David Ramos
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth with the Imperial State Crown resting on top, borne on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy followed by members of the royal family proceeds past The Wellington Arch.David Ramos/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled on a gun carriage through the streets of London following her funeral service at Westminster Abbey.Kin Cheung/The Associated Press
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Crowds on The Mall stand for a two minutes silence during the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth in London.KEVIN COOMBS/Reuters
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Members of the armed forces march during the funeral procession for Queen Elizabeth in London.Wo1 Rupert Frere/The Associated Press
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Coldstream Guards proceed down The Mall ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London.Chip Somodevilla/The Associated Press
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The RCMP lead the funeral procession marching down The Mall following the service at Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth, in London.ANDREW BOYERS/Reuters
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Buckingham Palace staff stand outside its gates during Queen Elizabeth funeral ceremonies in central London.POOL/Reuters
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth makes it way on the procession from Westminster Abbey following the funeral service.JOHN SIBLEY/Reuters
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Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte sit in a car on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth, in London.HANNAH MCKAY/Reuters
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RCMP during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in London.WPA Pool/Getty Images
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King Charles III, Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Britain's Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall attend the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth.BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre arrives during the state funeral.BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
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The crown is seen as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into the Westminster Abbey in London.HANNAH MCKAY/Reuters
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King Charles III and Anne, Princess Royal arrive at Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London.CHRIS Jackson GETTY IMAGES/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried into Westminster Abbey in London.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort (R), Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales (2nd R), Britain's Prince George of Wales (L) and Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales (2nd L) travel down The Mall on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth.WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips arrive at Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth.CHRIS Jackson GETTY IMAGES/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into Westminster Abbey for her state funeral in central London.Frank Augstein/The Associated Press
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Spectators are seen gathering on the Long Walk, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor.PAUL CHILDS/Reuters
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is placed on a gun carriage during her funeral service in Westminster Abbey in central London.Emilio Morenatti/The Associated Press
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King Charles III and Prince William are driven to Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth in central London.Emilio Morenatti/The Associated Press
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People gather prior of the Queen Elizabeth funeral in central London.Andreea Alexandru/The Associated Press
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People gather to watch the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Parliament Square in London.SARAH MEYSSONNIER/Reuters
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Guests arrive ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London.WPA Pool/Getty Images
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People display a portrait of Queen Elizabeth at Horse Guards Avenue ahead of her State Funeral Service in London.David Davies/The Associated Press
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Inside Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.Danny Lawson/Getty Images
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People gather to watch the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in London.WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London.Chris Furlong/Getty Images
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Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London.Chris Furlong/Getty Images
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Former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London.Chris Furlong/Getty Images
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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth, at Westminster Abbey in London.KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Trudeau arrive for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth in London.Geoff Pugh/Getty Images
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Christina Heerey (L), the last person to pay their respects, walks past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth Lying-In-State in Westminster Hall in London.Mark Large/Getty Images
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Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, arrives at Westminster Abbey in London.MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images
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The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, as it leaves Westminster Hall.WPA Pool/AFP/Getty Images
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Buckingham Palace household staff return through the gates of Buckingham Palace after paying their respects during the State Funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth in London.CHIP SOMODEVILLA/AFP/Getty Images
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is seen on the day of her funeral and burial, in London.POOL/Reuters
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Outside Windsor Castle on Tuesday, cleaners were busy clearing up and international news crews were taking down their equipment a day after thousands packed the streets to view the military procession escorting the Queen’s coffin from London to Windsor.
“The nation certainly has come together. As for the crowd yesterday, it was unbelievable, really,” said Marion Brettle, 73. “I think the whole nation stopped, and thought, and listened, and watched.”
The royal family were observing another week of mourning and aren’t expected to carry out official engagements. British media including Sky News reported that King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen consort, flew to Scotland on Tuesday to grieve privately.
Flags on British government buildings returned to flying at full-staff Tuesday, but those at royal residences will remain at half-staff until after the final day of royal mourning.
