Queen’s lying in state queue closed for 'at least six hours' after reaching capacity

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

The queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state has been paused for at least six hours after reaching capacity.

Mourners have been told not to attempt to join the line until it reopens again later.

Waiting times are estimated to be at least 14 hours.

"Entry [to the queue] will be paused for at least 6 hours," Britain's culture department said on Twitter. "Please do not attempt to join the queue until it reopens."

The queue snakes its way from Southwark Park in central south-east London to Westminster Hall, where the monarch is lying in state.

"I've no sensation in my knees at all or my legs," Hyacinth Appah from London, who was in the queue, told Reuters.

"But it's been fine. Most of the people have been lovely and we've had quite a nice time."

The queue, which was paused at 9.50am, was about 8 kilometres (5 miles) long at the time, according to the culture department's live queue tracker.

Around 750,000 people are expected to file past the queen's coffin before the doors to Westminster Hall close to the public early on Monday, the day of the state funeral.