The first woman in London to queue for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin told Good Morning Britain presenters lining the streets two days early had been an 'instant decision'.
Queues quickly began forming ahead of the late Queen's arrival to Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament, where she will be lying-in-state for four days.
It will begin at 5pm on Wednesday and will last until the morning of her funeral.
People already began waiting in line early in the morning of Tuesday, September 13.
The queue begins at Lambeth Bridge in London, where mourners are preparing for a long wait.
Speaking to the first person in London to queue, who was sitting on the ground patiently waiting, a GMB presenter asked what her plans were.
"I originally planned to come on Wednesday morning," Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, said.
"I went for a walk as usual past the parliament so I enquired from a couple of policemen where the queue is going to be starting so they directed me to the stewards.
"I went around to Lambeth bridge and asked them as well, a couple of stewards, and they said it's going to be from here."
She was then asked whether she anticipated a long wait, to which she answered: " The original plan was Wednesday morning but I was carrying some snacks and a bottle of water... It was an instant decision."
Vanessa arrived on the scene 48 hours before the occasion.
Many others made the decision to queue up and wait for the arrival of her coffin, despite long hours outside.
One woman revealed on BBC Breakfast that it was a 'unique, once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
"This is the way we want to pay respect to the Queen who has done a great service to the country and the Commonwealth and the world," she said.
The Queen’s coffin began its final journey when it left Balmoral on Sunday and after travelling by hearse it is now resting in St Giles’ Cathedral until this evening.
People queued for hours to say their goodbyes at the cathedral to Queen Elizabeth, the UK’s longest-serving monarch,
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They spoke of their sadness and a sense of peace within the cathedral.
"It was very beautiful, very peaceful and quiet," said Marie Claire Cross, 55, who works in the National Health Service and had been queuing since 11am to enter the cathedral, before finally making it in over seven hours later.
"I was awed by the fact that I was in the cathedral with Queen Elizabeth, who I have looked up to all my life. It was awesome in the true sense of the word and it was so sad."
The Queen's coffin will be flown back to London today.
Waiting to receive the coffin at the Palace will be the King and the Queen Consort. The Prince and Princess of Wales will also be present.
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