Tens of thousands of mourners have joined the wait to file past the Queen's coffin as she lies in state.

At lunchtime today the queue snaked for three miles along the South Bank of the Thames to Westminster Hall.

People have until 6.30am on Monday - the day of her funeral - to pay respects.

Great Western Railway is running a full timetable into London Paddington and all services are expected to be extremely busy.

Extra trains are operating between Reading and Paddington but these too are in high demand.

READ ALSO: Hospital appointments postponed on bank holiday to mark Queen's funeral

On the day of the funeral further additional services, particularly in the very early morning and late evening, will be laid on for those travelling from further afield. 

Hilary and Tony from Witney arrived back at Oxford station in the early hours of this morning.

Hilary told Radio Oxford: “It was absolutely wonderful. It was so quiet. It was so colourful, something I will never forget."

The Queen's coffin is raised on a raised platform called a catafalque and draped with a Royal Standard.

It is guarded around the clock by units from the Sovereign's Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.

Tony added: “People stopped for maybe 30 seconds in front of the coffin. Everything was very still, it was very, very moving."

A woman who travelled to London with her family, who originally comes from Cameroon but is living in Banbury, said: “We love her so much that we are taking the day off to come and pay our last respects.

“She is so important to me and is fundamental in everything she’s been doing. She’s a mother, she’s a Queen and she loves everybody."

Andrew Halas, who has queued since 6am, said it had been "a marvellous experience".

The 70-year-old told the PA news agency: "I'm not really a royalist, but I felt I had to come and pay my respects to a really good person."

He added: "I haven't seen the Queen or been with the Queen in any shape or form, but I just feel that somehow, indelibly, she has made a connection with people of my generation.

READ ALSO: Queen's favourite soup revealed by former Lord Lieutenant Sir Hugo Brunner

"It's kind of like closure, because she's, I think, an incredible human being. The whole world knows about the Queen."

The queue is being managed by Metropolitan police officers, volunteers and stewards.

People waiting in line have been given a coloured and numbered wristband.

 

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