anyone queuing to see the coffin in London atm?

[DickDarstedly]

I am wondering how long the queue is and how the organisation is working out. Are there enough toilets? Is it true that the wristband allows you to leave and come back?

EDITED BY MNHQ Please find the link to the new thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4635946-anyone-queuing-to-see-the-coffin-in-london-atm-pt-2

Australia here. They are reporting that various journalists from world media reporting on the events were permitted a VIP entrance to go through the Queue. Now reporting that it was one of the most amazing experiences of their lives and totally in awe of the British public.

Watching the live feed and thinking how interesting it will be in the future just as a snapshot of people in this country in 2022.

My friend was watching me on the live stream last night :)

She kindly sent me a screenshot too which will be nice to share with younger generations in the future. It was 4 mins between security finishing & entering the hall last night

Watching the live feed and thinking how interesting it will be in the future just as a snapshot of people in this country in 2022.

So so true. It's a history lesson in itself.

Can confirm all the points @SmiteTheeWithThunderbolts made (we were told sealed food can be donated to food bank) and it’s pretty good fun and a great view up to Victoria Gardens

Then it all gets a bit 😭😭😭 : BUT as it is zig zags (like airport check in) if you have kids with you they could sit on the side/end on a bench or a blanket if you have one with you for that bit (half of our time queuing last night was in this bit, so expect to be there for maybe 2-3 hours (we were there for 4 but unlucky with timing). it’s worth taking a break if you are on a group & can do so )

Its well worth packing a blanket to sit on or wear as it gets chilly when just standing . You would want something to sit on here as the side area is grass and probably a bit trodden by now

@hoikedjudgeypants : I hope the queues move fast for you! I was inning and ahhing too but glad I went.

Update us if you have enough battery :)

Does anyone know how long the accesable queue is?

I just managed to record my mum on the live feed! 8h from start to finish for her.

Have any celebs been spotted in #thequeue yet?

I'm sure I spotted tanni grey Thomson yesterday. Was it only yesterday?

As in Wednesday not Thursday.

There was someone famous/significant this evening, no idea who they were but the camera kept showing them. A tall old white man with a sort of medal ribbon tie.

There's about 30 coppers going through now, I wonder what arrangements they have. There must be a tradesman queue entrance .

That makes sense. We were approaching security and had to wait for about 15 minutes. We joined at 4.45 ish and out about 1.20 am. It was amazingly well organised - plenty of opportunities for toilet breaks, buying food etc along the south bank. A very well designed walk for most of the way but as a previous poster said - the zig zag in Victoria Gardens was 😩. My 83 year old father had insisted on walking all the way but was approached by a Red Cross volunteer as we entered the zig zag and asked if he wanted to go to accessibility line. That’s your last chance to deviate so a good tip if travelling with elderly who are done in after 6 hours of queuing. I took my 11 year old daughter but left my 8 year old at home. We had other kids aged 11-16 with us. They were all fine - bit whingy in the zig zag bit but so we’re we all. They all came out exhausted but very pleased with themselves and thought it had been amazing!

In the queue now, joined at 10pm in Southwark park, currently at Festival Hall.
Hopefully we are about halfway.

The children have no say at all in whether they go or not. Imagine standing in a queue for what 10 hours at the age of 3. There is no amount of food or toys that could make that a fun day out

Er - it’s not intended to be a fun day out!

I joined about 10:30 in the park as well. The live tracker said 4.9 miles and 9hr wait. I'm in a standstill queue on the Southbank at the moment and have just viewed the online tracker and it's now saying 4.9 miles and a 14hr wait! When we reached the OXO tower were told 6.5hrs from there. 😵

BBC News 24 just reporting that The Queue seems to be 11.5 hours, start point Southwark Park.

Still stuck on the Southbank in a standstill queue

I'm sort of half watching the live feed of Westminster Hall on TV. They have had a cleaning break I think which held things up, but the queue has just started moving again now quite briskly.

Joined the queue in the end just about 8pm by Tower Bridge where the wristbands were given out. Was on my own but ended up chatting with lovely folks and 8 of us stuck together from the Golden Hinde right to security. Crossed Lambeth Bridge at 12.35am, pretty much constantly moving. The zigzags in Victoria Gardens were painful plus we stopped at 3am for a good 45mins for cleaning. Got in just as the Guards changed at 4.20am. Very pleased I went, was the right decision, heartened by the queue camaraderie, all the stewards and police all on good form too. Pleased to be sat on the bus home now though.

@hoikedjudgeypants were you cold when you were queueing?

@hoikedjudgeypants I probably saw you on the TV in that case

I hope the bus ride home is all right for you. You've done all this in the dark, on your own.

@beccahamlet not particularly, had on 3 thinish layers and did pop a scarf on for a bit.

@SpinCityBlues it was quite something to see. Bus driver seems quote determined to get there quickly so all good there 😀

I think someone upthread was asking how long the accessible queue is, Sky News just said that it’s 7 hours long itself!