Long queues at Windsor Castle to see Queen Elizabeth's final resting place

First in line were two people who became friends at unveiling of Princess Diana statue

Scots Guards on the march in the grounds of Windsor Castle, as it reopened to visitors after a period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II came to an end. AFP

It reopened on Thursday, with visitors able to visit St George's Chapel, where an inscribed stone slab marking the death of Queen Elizabeth has been laid in the chapel inside. AFP

The queen was laid to rest in the chapel on September 19 after a state funeral in London. AFP

People queue to visit the queen’s final resting place. PA

The queues do not quite match those that snaked through London to see the queen's coffin lying in state, but dozens of tourists and royal fans were in line for reopening day. AFP

The sun shone as people waited to enter. AFP

The mood was buoyant yet sombre. AFP

Windsor Castle lies west of London and was one of the late queen’s residences. AFP

Grace Gogharg and Anne Daley leaving after visiting the inscribed ledger stone. PA

Royal enthusiasts Sky London and John Lowry outside Windsor Castle on Thursday. AFP

Hundreds of tourists and royalists were on Thursday queuing at Windsor Castle to see Queen Elizabeth II’s final resting place.

The castle, the monarch’s former home, reopened to the public on Thursday after a period of mourning and long lines formed to see her gravestone at St George's Chapel and a freshly inscribed ledger stone in her name.

The queen’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey, London and her coffin was then driven to Windsor, about 48 kilometres west of the capital, where she was buried alongside her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Anne Daley, 65, from Cardiff, and Grace Gotharg, from Ghana but who lives in London, were first in the queue, having arrived at Windsor Castle at 7.30am.

“The castle feels empty, gloomy,” Ms Daley said. "Nobody's living in it. You've lost the queen, you've lost the duke, you've lost the corgis.

"It's like when you've sold your house and all the history is gone.

"My father was in the Irish Guards and he did the coronation [in 1953]. So I had an interest from when I was a little girl."

Ms Daley and Ms Gotharg are firm royalists who became friends at the unveiling of the Diana, Princess of Wales statue outside Kensington Palace last July.

They were also among the first people to see the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall, London, before her state funeral.

"I am from the Commonwealth so I knew the queen before I came here,” Ms Gotharg said.

King Charles III follows behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre on top, as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. Reuters

The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. AP

Pall bearers carry the coffin into St. George's Chapel, in Windsor. AP

A Royal Guard stands by floral tributes at Windsor Castle. AFP

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors to Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry follow the coffin of the queen after her state funeral in Westminster Abbey. AP

Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as Queen Elizabeth's coffin passes at Windsor Castle. PA

Members of the royal household stand with Queen Elizabeth's Corgis, Muick and Sandy, as they await the funeral cortege at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. AP

Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the state funeral service in London. AFP

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth is pulled along The Mall following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey. AP

Flowers thrown by the public lie on the hearse carrying the coffin as it arrives at Windsor Castle. AP

King Charles at the state funeral in London. Reuters

People sleep before the funeral service at Westminster Abbey. AFP

A giant screen honouring the late queen at Piccadilly Circus in London. EPA

King Charles looks towards the coffin of his mother at Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sitting in a car as a British flag is reflected in its window. AFP

Buckingham Palace household staff return through the gates of the palace after paying their respects. AFP

Staff Sergeant Yeoman Darren Fowler, right, and Captain Rebecca Cooper from the Royal Signals at the Elizabeth Tower, checking that Big Ben Chimes in time with gunfire during the state funeral procession. EPA

King Charles salutes as he is driven past Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images

The London skyline is seen as the procession moves down The Mall. Getty Images

The coffin of the queen is pulled on a gun carriage by Royal Navy sailors from Westminster Abbey. Getty Images

Princess Charlotte arrives by car ahead of the funeral in central London. AP

The coffin is carried into St George's Chapel for the Committal Service, in Windsor Castle. AP

A woman cries in London's Hyde Park while watching the funeral service. AP

Prince George looks towards his father Prince William during the Committal Service at St George's Chapel. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth's coffin is driven along the Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Reuters

People waiting along the route that the coffin will be pulled on a gun carriage in central London. AP

King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla follow the coffin at St George's Chapel. AP

The Royal State Hearse arrives at Windsor Castle. Getty Images

King Charles follows the State Gun Carriage as it carries the coffin at Westminster Abbey. PA

Members of the public gather to see the coffin as it travels from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London. Getty Images

King Charles and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin as it is carried into Westminster Abbey. PA

The Imperial State Crown resting on the coffin. Getty Images

The hearse transporting the coffin is covered in flowers thrown by the public. AFP

The Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carries the coffin from Westminster Abbey. AFP

"She did a good job as head of the Commonwealth. She was a good woman and a good mother. Everybody loves her."

Darren Martin, 43, from near Melbourne in Australia, was next in the queue at Windsor on Thursday. He travelled to the UK two weeks ago after the queen's death.

"I arrived in time to do the queue and camped out for the funeral” Mr Martin said. "I've driven all the way to Balmoral, Holyroodhouse and Sandringham.

"I then had a little bit of a holiday in Sussex and Cornwall. I've come here today for my final send-off before I go back home.

"She was somebody that I admired very much for her service, everything that she did and everything she stood for.

"My grandparents liked the royal family. My grandmother reminded me of the queen. As a child I fantasised about my own grandmother being the queen and that stood with me throughout my life."

Inside the grounds of Windsor Castle, the queue into St George's Chapel was long, running alongside much of the building's exterior.

Signs saying "no photography" were plastered on many posts and pillars.

Once inside, visitors shuffled around the walls of the chapel, passing the tombs of other monarchs and the main seating area.

After looping round the front of the building, they entered the back section of the chapel.

There, on the left, in a tomb behind a black railing, lies Queen Elizabeth II.

Her gravestone is black with gold writing and several wreaths of various colours accompany it.

Members of the public walked slowly past the tomb but they did not stop, as they had been instructed not to do so by members of staff.

The visitors proceeded slowly through the chapel, past the altar and passed tombstones of previous monarchs.