And at 4 p.m. that day, they were joined by Grace, who lives in Surrey and is originally from Ghana.
“They’re like a reflection of what Britain looks like today,” said 85-year-old Michael Darvill of London, who was ninth in line.
Mourners were given a strictly “non-transferrable” wristband that allows them to leave and re-join the line.
While they waited, the late sovereign made her final return home to Buckingham Palace, where the hearse carrying her coffin after it was flown back from Scotland was greeted with applause Tuesday night from thousands waiting outside.
On Wednesday the coffin will make the ceremonial journey from the palace to Westminster in a horse-drawn gun carriage, followed on foot by King Charles III, Prince William, Prince Harry and other senior royals. The route, lined with flags, will be packed with mourners and well-wishers while the ceremonial procession will be accompanied by the chimes of Big Ben and gun salutes in Hyde Park.
Not until 5 p.m. (1 p.m. ET) are people allowed to file past the queen.
Nanthakumaran said she brought with her a couple of croissants, some milk and bottle of water to tide her over. But what she really appreciates is the company.
“We’re doing this together,” she said, nodding at Annie and Grace as the three sat beneath a shelter with a table behind them stacked with supplies like “Golden Shred” orange marmalade, which they said was a favorite of the queen. “It requires some stamina.”
“But we are all supporting one another,” Grace, her shoulders covered with a Union Jack, said.
“It was gut-wrenching,” Annie said, when asked what she felt when she learned that the queen had died. “She had this unique ability to speak to us as a nation,” she added. “There were so many rituals involving the queen that united us.”
Grace agreed. “She made us all feel welcome in this country,” she said.
Reporters outnumbered the women at first. But as they spoke, the line of mourners began to grow as more and more began arriving.
Elizabeth’s body will lie in state at Westminster Hall until Monday, the day of her funeral.
British newspapers have been reporting that police expect anywhere from 750,000 to a million people to camp out for the chance to file past the coffin of the country’s longest serving monarch.
“That sounds about right,” said a British security official watching over the growing line of mourners.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
