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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
David Clark

Queen lying-in-state SHUTS to the public as last people file through ahead of funeral

The Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall has shut to the public ahead of the late monarch's state funeral.

Queen Elizabeth II had been lying in state since last Wednesday, when her coffin was transferred from Buckingham Palace in order to allow mourners to pay their respects.

Thousands descended on the capital, with the queue exceeding five miles in length and a 24-hour wait on occasion.

The UK's longest-serving monarch died 11 days ago at the age of 96.

About 2,000 people, including global heads of state and royals, will be at Westminster Abbey for Monday's state funeral, before the Queen makes her final journey to Windsor, where she will be laid to rest alongside Prince Philip.

Follow live updates from today's events in our live blog

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall (PA)
The final person to pay their respects to the Queen at Westminster Hall (Sky News)

The procession will follow A roads rather than the M4 in order to give as many members of the public as possible the chance to line the route.

People have been warned to avoid driving in parts of London, with one of the UK's biggest ever transport operations to take place as around a million people descend on the capital.

Road closures will start to come in on the A4 and the A30 from 6am, with full closures in both directions after 10am, which are not likely to be lifted until the evening.

Christine Rogers, 62, and daughter Sarah Rogers, 29, got the last two wristbands last night (Sky News)

A commission service will then be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor during the afternoon, at which point the Queen will be reunited with Prince Philip in the royal burial vault.

In a private evening ceremony, both will be then laid to rest in the King George VI memorial chapel, where the Queen's parents George VI and the Queen Mother, as well as her sister Princess Margaret, are all interred.

Among the last people to file through Westminster Hall were mum Christine Rogers, 62, and daughter Sarah, 29.

They received the last two wristbands before the queue was closed to the public at about 10.30pm last night.

Those that weren't lucky enough to make it into the queue applauded Christine and Sarah, despite their disappointment.

The queue was shut off about three miles from the Queen's coffin, meaning there would still be at least a seven-hour wait ahead.

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