Some stopped and bowed, others blew kisses while a few sobbed openly as mourners slowly walked past Queen Elizabeth II lying in state on Wednesday evening.
Two lines streamed down the thick, fawn-coloured carpet past the coffin draped with the Royal Standard.
It rested on the raised catafalque guarded by two officers each from the Life Guards and Blues and Royals, four Beefeaters and two King's Body Guard, each statuesque as they rested hands on drawn swords, tips touching the red carpet, heads bowed.
The National, in the first small group of journalists allowed into Westminster Hall, watched as lords, MPs and parliamentary workers went down one side while the public went down the other.
As they came to the North Door of the 11th-century hall, they momentarily mingled, politicians and the people. It was how the queen, resting only a few metres away, would have wanted it.
Some left crying on the shoulders of a colleague. One woman blew a kiss, walked a few more paces then turned and blew another. The sense of loss was tangible.
The public pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster - in pictures
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Members of the public pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as it lies in state inside Westminster Hall, London. AFP -
People queue in Westminster Hall to pay their respects. Getty -
Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived at Westminster Hall after a procession from Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth lies in Westminster Hall. PA -
Long lines of mourners pass through Westminster Hall. AP -
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state in Westminster Hall from Wednesday until a few hours before her funeral on Monday. AFP
Never had Britain witnessed a monarch so devoted to duty or so respected after her record 70-year reign.
That will be reflected in the 16-kilometre queues that will continue until Monday at 6.30am British time, with many Britons and overseas mourners who have only known one monarch wanting to pay their last respects.
At the front, people young and old alike had arrived from 4am, some wearing military medals, others in wheelchairs.
“It was so emotional. You could feel such warmth coming from her,” one woman told The National after leaving the hall.
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin procession from Buckingham Palace - in pictures
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King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Anne salute alongside Prince Harry and Prince Andrew, as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the Palace of Westminster, following a procession from Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Queen Elizabeth lies in state in Westminster Hall before the public is allowed in to pay their respects. Getty Images -
Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, walk in the procession as it arrives at Westminster Hall. AP -
Britain's Prime Minister Liz Truss at Westminster Hall. AP -
The choir performs at Westminster Hall. Reuters -
A view of the London skyline during the procession of the coffin. AP -
Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall and Princess Eugenie arrive at Westminster Hall. AP -
The imperial state crown sits on top of the coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth into Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
The coffin is laid to rest in Westminster Hall. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Edward follow the bearer party carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth into Westminster Hall. PA -
A woman wipes away tears as she joins people sitting in Hyde Park. AP -
Life Guards, a unit of the Household Cavalry, stand guard outside the Palace of Westminster. Getty Images -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry depart after the procession. Getty Images -
The coffin is carried down The Mall. PA -
A man overcome with emotion in Hyde Park. AP -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. PA -
Mourners watch the procession at Hyde Park. Getty Images -
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, adorned with the royal standard and the imperial state crown, and pulled by a gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the procession from Buckingham Palace in London. AFP -
The procession leaves Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
The imperial state crown on the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is driven behind the coffin. AFP -
King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth. AFP -
King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward walk behind the coffin. Getty -
The cortege makes its way along The Mall from Buckingham Palace. Getty -
Prince William and Prince Harry follow the coffin. AP -
Grenadier Guards flank the coffin of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
Royal Navy soldiers march ahead of the procession near Big Ben. Getty -
Coldstream Guards prepare outside Buckingham Palace, before the ceremonial procession. PA -
King Charles waves to the crowds after leaving Clarence House in central London, before the procession. AFP -
Crowds gather along The Mall. Reuters -
Members of the Life Guards leave Wellington Barracks ahead of the procession. AP -
Mourners gather to watch the procession in Hyde Park. Getty -
A mourner at The Mall decorated with images of Queen Elizabeth. PA -
Queen Consort Camilla arriving at Buckingham Palace. AFP
The National counted 50 people passing a minute until after 20 minutes the line inside Westminster Hall halted for five minutes to allow the 10 catafalque guards to change over, in another solemn but exact act of military precision.
That discipline was reflected earlier in the day when Big Ben tolled mournfully once every minute as the late queen left Buckingham Palace for the last time at 2.22pm.
From 5pm on Wednesday to 6.30am on Monday her closed coffin will be mounted on a catafalque where it will be viewed by an estimated 500,000 people.
It was accompanied by wreath of white roses and dahlias appropriately joined by pine from the gardens at Balmoral Castle along with lavender and rosemary from Windsor Castle, both places treasured homes of the queen
The morning rain from slate-grey skies had subsided to rays of sunshine as the gun carriage of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery trundled down The Mall, which was lined with Union flags and flanked by silent mourners, 10 people deep.
Mourners line The Mall to watch queen's coffin procession - in pictures
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Esther Ravenor holds up a Kenyan flag while waiting to watch the queen's coffin pass by along The Mall. Photo: The National -
Sharon Chlouk, left, and her daughter Riya, centre, with photos of the queen on The Mall. Photo: The National -
Royal fan 'Uncle Mick' on The Mall while waiting for the procession. The National -
Derek Derdivanis from California said he was impressed by the dedication of royal fans after stumbling on the scenes in The Mall on Wednesday morning. Photo: The National -
Bertrand Philibert from Mauritius, left, with fellow royal fan Lewis from Newcastle wait on The Mall before the ceremonial procession. Photo: The National -
Valerie Garnerone travelled to London from Nice in France to witness the historic royal procession Buckingham Palace to Westminster. Photo: The National -
Chantelle Cahill and her six children rose at 5am to secure front-row positions on The Mall to watch the procession. Photo: The National
It was a road that the queen had taken so many times, on horseback for Trooping the Colour, others in the state carriage for the opening of Parliament. Many a head of state and prime minister had travelled in the opposite direction for audiences that Queen Elizabeth hosted during her reign.
Her final formal journey down the route through Horse Guards Parade had been in late June, to celebrate her platinum jubilee.
Now, instead of the joyful tunes of military bands and the rock group Queen, was the sound of gunfire every minute from the Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park.
Behind the escort party of 34 soldiers from The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards came King Charles III walking alongside his three siblings.
Queen Elizabeth II's lying in state explained - video
The waiting crowd of his new subjects watched the procession slowly march past, some smiling in memory of all Queen Elizabeth had done for their country, others crying. Nearly all clapped.
The escort of Grenadiers, Life Guards and Blue and Royals, who form part of the Household Division, marched the entire 40-minute journey either with their rifle or sword reversed under their right arm with their left hand behind their back. Each wore a black armband.
At precisely 3pm the procession reached Westminster Hall, attached to the Houses of Parliament.
In a moment of perfect unison, the eight Grenadier pallbearers removed the coffin from the gun-carriage then, as if it was raising under its own volition, placed it on their shoulders, before marching to the catafalque as choristers sang.
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrives at Buckingham Palace - video
The lying in state is another important moment in the transition of power, during which British subjects historically confirmed that the monarch was actually dead. This has been open to the public only since Edward VII’s death in 1910.
The location of Westminster Hall, once the home of kings and feasts, is symbolic in recognising the close relationship between crown and Parliament, in which the latter’s legislation ultimately has to be signed off by the monarch.
Another symbol of the transition was the crown on the coffin that will not be passed to King Charles until his coronation, most likely next year.
Before then, people from Britain and around the world will queue, some potentially for 24 hours, to pay their last respects.
RAF plane carrying Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lands in London - video
A major operation has begun with 1,000 security staff and volunteers supervising the line that stretched down the Thames past the London Eye and beyond the Tower of London.
Coloured wristbands were handed out to ensure people could keep their place if they needed to visit one of the 500 Portaloos lining the route or to get some refreshments.
After an airport-type security check, the first entered the hall silent in the gravity of the presence of their dead queen.
For the next six days, officers of the Household Division will stand vigil at each corner of the catafalque in six-hour shifts, except when the queen’s four children will mount their own vigil late on Friday evening.
People queue to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lying in state - in pictures
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People wait in a queue near Tower Bridge in London to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters -
Thousands of people are queueing in London to see Queen Elizabeth lying in state in Westminster Hall. Bloomberg -
People queue on a bridge over the river Thames, next to the Palace of Westminster. Reuters -
Stuart Murphy works on his iPad as he stands in a queue near Bermondsey, London. Reuters -
A newly married couple pose next to people waiting in line. AFP -
People in the queue in Victoria Tower Gardens. PA -
The long queue winds it's way past the London Eye. Bloomberg -
People join the queue on the South Bank in London to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state. AP -
People in the queue on the South Bank opposite the Houses of Parliament. AP -
A queue forms on a pavement in central London ahead of the procession. EPA -
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state for four days inside Westminster Hall until the morning of her funeral, to be held on Monday. PA -
Members of the queue on the South Bank. PA -
Members of the public queue near Lambeth Bridge. AP -
A wall to sit on ahead of the ceremonial procession. AP -
People settle in behind fences on the route. EPA
