Queen’s lying in state ends with last mourner going around twice

Chrissy Heerey, a serving member of the RAF from Melton Mowbray, was the last person to leave Westminster Hall

Members of the public pay their respects at 4.57am, shortly before the lying in state ended, as they view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall. AFP

The last member of the public to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II did so early on Monday, before the start of the state funeral in Westminster Abbey.

Doors to Westminster Hall closed at 6.30am, finally bringing an end to the queue in which thousands of people lined up, some for up 24 hours, to file past the queen lying in state.

Chrissy Heerey, a serving member of the RAF from Melton Mowbray, was the last person to leave the hall.

She said the experience was “one of the highlights” of her life.

"I was the last person to pay my respects to the queen and it felt like a real privilege to do that,” she said.

She said she was able to go around twice, after officials closed the queue, no longer allowing anyone to join, at 10.40pm on Sunday.

"I'd already been round once, I went in at 1.15am this morning,” she said. "Because it just went so quick and it was such an amazing experience, I just felt I didn't do the queen justice so I wanted to go around again. I joined the end of the queue and remained at the end of the queue as I certainly didn't want to take the spot of someone else wanting to go in before me.

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

"It's one of the highlights of my life and I feel very privileged to be here."

The second-last person to see the queen lying in state was Sima Mansouri, 55, originally from Iran, who lives in South Croydon, London.

She said her love for the queen dated back to the 1970s, when her cousin was a flower girl for a royal visit in Tehran.

Ms Mansouri said: "It was a boiling hot day and my poor cousin has got very fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.

"The queen came out of her plane and was more concerned with my cousin burning in the sun than being a royal.

"She said, 'Can someone please get this little girl out of the sun?' Then she kissed her and grabbed the flowers.

"I thought it was amazing."

Meanwhile, some were left disappointed, after queueing for hours through the night in London without wristbands.

Albert, who joined the queue at 10pm, was one of those not allowed into Westminster.

He said the government's official live feed was not kept up to date with information that no more wristbands would be given out.

King Charles III in Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for the committal service. PA

The hearse arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service. Getty Images

Flowers are seen on the hearse as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP

King Charles and Prince William join the procession in the Quadrangle inside Windsor Castle. AFP

The procession, led by the dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry, followed by massed Pipes and Drums of Scottish and Irish regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Air Force and the Band of the Grenadier Guards, arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle. Reuters

The ceremonial procession travels down the Long Walk in Windsor. PA

The hearse travels to Windsor. Reuters

The royal corgis await the cortege at Windsor Castle. Reuters

A member of the Coldstream Guards walks past flowers at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. AP

A mourner throws a flower towards Queen Elizabeth's hearse as it is driven to Windsor from London. Reuters

Members of the royal family pay their respects as the hearse carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth in London. Reuters

The state gun carriage carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrives at Wellington Arch during the ceremonial procession following her state funeral. PA

The funeral procession marches down The Mall following the service at Westminster Abbey. AP

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried from her state funeral at Westminster Abbey. PA

King Charles walks with Princess Anne, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is pulled on a gun carriage through the streets of London following her funeral service. AP

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince George, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, stand outside Westminster Abbey after the funeral. PA

Buckingham Palace household staff pay their respects. AFP

Mourners pause for two minutes' silence during the funeral service in London. Reuters

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the sovereign's orb and sceptre, arrives in Westminster Abbey. AP

Prince William, his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at Westminster Abbey. AP

Members of the public watch the funeral from Horse Guards Road in London. PA

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speaking during the funeral. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried into Westminster Abbey, followed by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla for the state funeral in London. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey. Getty

King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward arrive at Westminster Abbey. AFP

Prince William and Prince Harry make their way to Westminster Abbey. PA

The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth through central London. PA

Members of the public on the Mall become emotional during the funeral. PA

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed on a gun carriage for her state funeral service in central London. AP

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth leaves Westminster Hall. AP

The Yeoman of the Guard arrive in Westminster Abbey. AP

Guests take their seats inside Westminster Abbey in London for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth. AFP

The Royal Marines band marches to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

US President Joe Biden arrives for the funeral. PA

French President Emanuel Macron and wife Brigitte walk into Westminster Abbey. PA

Metropolitan Police Officers walk in formation down The Mall in preparation for the state funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II. Getty

A Pearly king and queen, who raise money for charity, on the procession route in London. AFP

People line the funeral procession route. Getty

Mourners take a moment to rest on The Mall in London. Reuters

At 6.28am on the day of her funeral, the final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth at the Palace of Westminster, London. PA

London's Westminster Abbey on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

Black Rod, the House of Lords' senior figure, walks through Westminster Hall at 6.30am after paying her respects on the final day of the lying in state at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in London. PA

Police on patrol in Whitehall before Queen Elizabeth II's funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. EPA

People in London camp during the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

Vehicles in the motorcade of US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II in London. Getty Images

US President Joe Biden accompanied by the First Lady Jill Biden signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London. PA

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Reuters

The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska (R) views the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall in London. Getty Images

Oman's Sultan Haitham arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London, the night before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. AP

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, arrives for a reception hosted by Britain's King Charles III for heads of state and official overseas guests, at Buckingham Palace in London, before the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. AP

Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati and his wife May sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA

"The communication has been terrible," he said, after having queued in central London for more than six hours.

"There were loads of people who joined the official queue based on the website, but never received wristbands.

"And in the queue they didn't give us any information — just to be disrespectful to us when we got here [Lambeth Bridge] in the end."

Thousands of people continued to stream into the capital early on Monday for the chance to see the state funeral, with many tube lines busy.

But some journeys were disrupted by damage to overhead electric wires, which blocked all railway lines between Slough and Paddington, affecting people travelling from Reading or Heathrow Airport.

The queen’s coffin will remain in the hall for several hours before being transferred to Westminster Abbey for the funeral later on Monday for the service, which will begin at 11am.

The doors to the abbey opened at 8am. Around 2,000 quests are expected to attend the service, including charity workers and world leaders.