“I think it’s a sign of respect, the amount of people that are committed to being patient and queuing,” a volunteer queue manager told BuzzFeed News. “Even if it rains, I think they’ll still be here.”
Kate Fryer, a National Health Service worker from Kent, defied the line for five hours alone and with a bad hip.
The 44-year-old, who is assisted by a cane, commends the organizers for making the grueling process as accessible as possible for people with mobility problems.
“They were very good. It was very well organized,” she told BuzzFeed News.
When they reached the end of the line, mourners entered the solemn scene at Westminster Hall, where the Queen’s casket was located, surrounded by ceremonial guards with glittering crowns perched on their heads.
A live stream from the BBC showed people queuing quietly stopping beside the coffin. Some bowed, some cried, but all brought an indescribable sense of history to those in line.
