I think you’ll find there’s been a heck of a lot of rehearsal over the last few days. These things aren’t improvised at the last moment
There’s been a dress rehearsal for Her Majesty’s funeral every year since she turned 80. As amusing as it is to imagine Prince Charles personally attending the rehearsals they probably used a stand-in. 
Is there a reason the honor guard changes every 20 minutes? With so many people wanting to pass through, that slows things up a bit. I assume there is a reason since it wouldn’t be difficult to stand there for that length of time. Though one guard did faint several minutes ago so maybe it’s stressful. They cut the live feed to deal with it. The poor man must be mortified.
It is hard to stand still for a lengthy period of time, in a single pose. Not unusual to have regular relief.
Yes, surprisingly moving. Some are making the Orthodox sign of the cross, a few women are curtsying, and one older man with a long white beard (a Sikh, I think, from his turban) prostrated himself flat on the floor. I was in London 3 weeks ago and noticed that it’s a very multicultural city, which the queue does reflect.
It must be chilly there too, people are in jackets and coats, weather site says 59 F/ 15C
And the Queue Tracker feed says that the line is 2.4 miles long.
How long are people in line?
According to Google Maps that walk (now up to 2.9 miles long) should take 59 minutes at a normal walking pace. Slowing down the speed and adding on the stops for the changing of the guard, I would guesstimate 3 hours to get from the end of the line to Westminster Hall?
I was a pall bearer for my great aunt. I was honored to be asked, and it was nice to be able to do a final service for her.
I was shocked at how light the coffin was, or at least, my share of the coffin. But her coffin was just pine, no lead.
From Her Majesty The Queen's Lying-in-State at the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) - GOV.UK
If you wish to attend the Lying-in-State in person, please note that there will be a queue, which is expected to be very long. You will need to stand for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving.
. . . .
When you reach the back of the queue, you will be given a coloured and numbered wristband. This is a record of when you joined the queue, however please note that having a wristband does not guarantee your entry to the Lying-in-State.
Wristbands are specific to each person joining the queue, and are strictly non-transferable. You must keep this wristband on at all times as it will be checked along the route.
Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue. Public toilets, drinking water and first aid stations are available at designated locations along the queue route.
Not quite. You’re correct that Jaguar is Indian-owned (by Tata Motors) but so is Rover. They’re both part of Jaguar Land Rover.
One of the “Beefeater”-garbed men earlier this afternoon was sort of hunched over and leaning heavily on his staff. Probably counting the minutes til his relief came.
Usually when you see large groups of people on TV they are protesting/demonstrating, or celebrating (sports events, Mardi Gras)-- they’re active, loud, and boisterous. To see hundreds of people, moving silently in a line, hour after hour, each (or most) making an intentional gesture of respect, affection, or reverence toward the Queen’s coffin-- it’s heartening to watch.
So if the guard is changed every twenty minutes, how long is it before the same guard has to return? After only one twenty-minute rest break? Or is the break longer?
There are only 32 Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) so they must be quite busy, whatever shift rotation they’re doing. Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces
Maybe they’ve brought in some of their retirees to supplement their numbers.
Many details here:
The continuous 24-hour vigil will be broken into four six-hour shifts.
These shifts will rotate, with the guards standing vigil switching places every 20 minutes.
But this link tells you everything.
The queue is currently 2 miles long.
Yes. Royal funerals are rehearsed constantly. It’s why they were able to put up one on such short notice for Diana.
Interesting titbit, the US also rehearses funerals for Presidents and there was one rehearsal a day before Kennedy was assassinated, something that has been used as “proof” of a government conspiracy. They were in fact doing it in anticipation of the death of a rather aged ex President (Truman maybe).
She has also been made persona non grata for the family since the mid 2000’s. She was at Diana and the QM funeral.
OK, I made a wildly over-optimistic guesstimate above. According to this post on the BBC site,
“I joined the back of the queue near Southwark Bridge at 21:00 local time on Wednesday. . . . By 23:15 we passed the National Theatre and beneath Hungerford Bridge . . . . As we approach Westminster Bridge, the queue stops, but we’re told we’re now just a couple of hours away from Westminster Hall. By 01:30 on Thursday we’ve crossed Westminster Bridge and the mood is more reflective.”
So 4 hours 30 minutes after getting in the queue they’re around an hour away from the Hall and haven’t even been through security yet.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-62897146?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=63226342b93e504e258c7eb3%26’Saying%20farewell%20to%20that%20whole%20generation’%262022-09-15T00%3A36%3A00.271Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:a9875072-d78a-4eea-94dd-7171ed297993&pinned_post_asset_id=63226342b93e504e258c7eb3&pinned_post_type=share
Not quite. They are the Yeomen of the Guard, who are different from the Yeoman Warders, and there are 76 of them.
Yes, that’s why the coffin went most of the way on a gun carriage as opposed to be carried the entire way. I’m sure the pallbearers are glad that the late queen was a tiny woman, as the burden is heavy enough as it is.
The British method looks quite secure, far less likely for the coffin to be dropped. There is the drawback of needing to lift it to shoulder height in the first place, but using platforms that are already that level seems to mitigate most of the problem that poses.
I get nervous thinking of the value of the crown as a material object just sitting out in the open air. Sure, there are guards around, but still… Of course, the crown is actually used in various ceremonies, it’s just a museum piece. That’s one hell of a piece of bling.
I am positive there was a crapload of rehearsal for that role.
I think Americans at some point became weirded out by coffins that are too suggestive of the human form. Caskets - as opposed to coffins - are just box-shaped.
I suspect it has to do with the stress of the duty, which likely is emotional as well as physical. Some UK folks I know from another board were actually taking bets on when the first guard would pass out, and how many, so apparently this is a known risk for these events.
Actually, standing perfectly still in one spot is harder than walking around. It doesn’t make sense if you haven’t done it, but once you’ve attempted you understand that standing that still is not at all natural for a human being.
One of the guards passed out. Poor fellow, hope he’s ok.
I’m still watching the public file past the Queen’s coffin… It’s mesmerizing. Most of these people have stood in line for many hours. It’s 1:44 PM there now. I can’t find a solid estimate of how many people have passed by, but one article said more than 30,000 so far.
The old soldiers really get to me. White-haired gentlemen, clearly well into their 80s, rows of medals on their dark suits. Some on walkers. One on a mobility scooter. They stop, turn toward the raised bier, and execute a sharp salute.
As an Air Force brat and an Army widow, a snappy salute always goes straight to my heart.