Thousands travel to London to pay their last respects

As the late Queen leaves Buckingham Palace for the last time this afternoon, thousands of people from Poole are travelling to the capital to pay their respects, with London expecting unprecedented crowds.

King Charles and Princes William and Harry will walk behind the coffin today as it is taken to Westminster Hall on a gun carriage accompanied by gun fire and Big Ben’s toll, to lie in state before the funeral on Monday.

The Queen’s coffin will rest on a raised platform, draped in the Royal Standard with the Orb and Sceptre placed on top; it will be flanked by a military guard around the clock. The public are welcome to pay their respects from 5pm today until 6.30am Monday morning but are warned to expect an extremely long wait - up to 35 hours.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who will be part of the official reception committee for the coffin, said: “It’s a very human emotion, I think, where people just want to come, have that private moment where they say thank you to a remarkable sovereign. I think it’s been very moving across the whole country. It’s been quite an incredible moment where people have come together.”

Transport for London has asked that people avoid driving to the capital, where a massive logistical operation is taking place, and instead use the rail network and London Underground.

South Western Railway has said it will be operating usual service levels throughout the mourning period, with a full weekday timetable on Monday, rather than a bank holiday service. It will also run extra services where possible and has cancelled all planned strike action and engineering works. Journey planners until Sunday are live on the site www.southwesternrailway.com

For those who would like to pay their respects locally, there are books of condolence at Poole Museum and Bournemouth and Christchurch libraries. Flowers can be left at Poole War Memorial, Bournemouth War Memorial or Christchurch Priory.

By Emily McGregor, Poole Local News and Lifestyle Reporter