British officials say the line for people to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state had reached “final capacity” and had to be closed to new entrants.
“Please do not attempt to join the queue,” the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said in a tweet today NZT.
Hundreds of thousands of people have waited for hours in a miles-long line through central London in the past four days for a chance to file past the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament.
Family by family, thousands of people kept joining the line around the clock, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours in a queue that stretched for over 8 kilometres.
READ MORE: Royal family release stunning unseen photo of the Queen ahead of funeral
The lying in state ends Monday morning (local time), when the Queen’s coffin will be taken to nearby Westminster Abbey for her state funeral service.
Monday has been declared a public holiday in the UK in honour of Elizabeth, who died on September 8 at 96 after 70 years on the throne.
READ MORE: How the Queen stayed so active till 96 - companionship may play a role
Her funeral will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and territories worldwide and screened to crowds in parks and public spaces across the country.
We’ll have full coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral on Monday in a 1News Special from 7.30 pm on TVNZ 1, and on 1News.co.nz.
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