Mourners have been warned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) not to attempt to join the queue at Southwark Park in south-east London until around 4pm on Friday at the earliest.
The coffin, which sits on a catafalque and is draped with a Royal Standard, continues to be guarded at all hours by units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
The call was made as the official estimate for queuing time reached at least 14 hours, before a warning was also issued about long wait times at the “very busy” accessible queue.
However, there was some confusion on the ground as hundreds of people continued to file through the gate into the park, with one attendant saying they had yet to receive an order to bar entry.
The DCMS had tweeted: “Southwark Park has reached capacity. Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
“Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.”
5. Members of the public in the queue at 06:19 on The Queen's Walk by Tower Bridge in London
Members of the public in the queue at 06:19 on The Queen's Walk by Tower Bridge in London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. Picture date: Friday September 16, 2022. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor
6. Members of the public in the queue in Westminster, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state
Members of the public in the queue in Westminster, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. Picture date: Thursday September 15, 2022. Photo: Jacob King
7. Members of the public in the queue on the South Bank near to Millennium Bridge
Members of the public in the queue on the South Bank near to Millennium Bridge, London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. The queue itself is moving at around 0.5 miles per hour. Photo: Aaron Chown
8. Thousands are waiting in line
The queue itself is moving at around 0.5 miles per hour. Photo: PA