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Deadline for confirming attendance at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral arrives as Leeds pays further tributes - live updates

The guestlist for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday can soon be drawn up as the deadline for confirming attendance has arrived.
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Monday September 19 has already been confirmed as a bank holiday as the country prepares to lay its longest-reigning monarch to rest.

The ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey and an array of royals and politicians are expected to be in attendance.

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President Joe Biden has confirmed he will be making the journey from the United States for the ceremony, alongside First Lady Jill Biden.

The Queen continues to lie in state. Image: James HardistyThe Queen continues to lie in state. Image: James Hardisty
The Queen continues to lie in state. Image: James Hardisty

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II is set for her first full day of lying in state.

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All the places closing for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on 19 September: f...

There have been lengthy queues of people wanting to pay their respects at Westminster Hall and the coffin will remain there over the weekend.

Leeds has continued to pay tribute and yesterday, a special meeting of Leeds City Council was held.

Scroll down for live updates as Leeds continues to mourn Her Majesty.

Key timings for the Queen’s funeral confirmed

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Today’s key events

Friday marks D-Day +7, or D+7, in the plans marking the Queen’s death.

The King is to visit Wales for the first time since ascending the throne.

He will then return to London to meet with faith leaders, before holding a vigil at the Queen’s coffin with his brothers and sister.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are to visit an army training centre in Surrey mid-afternoon to meet troops taking part in funeral arrangements.

A Met Police briefing expected is expected this morning on the policing operation after the death of the Queen.

Mourners waiting to see the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall face the prospect of showers today in a queue nearly five miles long.

Key timings for the Queen’s funeral

Leeds couple say farewell to Queen

Paula Johnson, 57, a waitress, and Graham Johnson, 58, a retired engineer, walked for an hour to get to the end of the queue to see the Queen lying in state.

The married couple from Leeds travelled on Thursday to say a final goodbye.

Mrs Johnson said: “I was quite moved that she’d gone because she’s always been there and suddenly she’s not. Which is quite sad.

“I think it will be very serene and very calm. It will be the right atmosphere to be in to see her. I think it will be a lovely final gesture the fact that she’s calm and at peace.”

Speaking about the Queen and her royal duties, Mr Johnson said: “She had it thrust upon her totally unexpectedly and she’s absolutely dedicated her life to it, and done it wonderfully.

“We’ll never see anybody like her ever again. Never ever again. I don’t think we’ve seen anybody like her previously. A wonderful woman.”

The couple are prepared to stay however long it takes to see the Queen lying in state, even if it means cancelling their train booked at 8pm on Friday and booking another one.

Commenting on the King, Mrs Johnson said: “I’m sure her son will make a very good king, I do. He’s had that position for so long in waiting that he knows what’s expected, as does William in the next generation. Because she’s been there so long, she’s managed to probably nurture two future kings, I suspect.

“I don’t think the nation realises what an asset the queen has been and was.”

Harewood House to close on day of funeral

Harewood House has announced that it will be closed on Monday September 1 - the day of the Queen’s funeral.

In a statement, they said: “The staff, volunteers and Trustees of Harewood House Trust have been touched to read comments by Members and visitors in books of condolence at Harewood this week, and hear people's memories of Her Majesty's visits to Harewood. A number of people have left flowers on the steps of the House as we collectively mourn the passing of The Queen.

“Our thoughts remain with The Queen’s family, her friends and loved ones at this sad time.”

The Earl of Harewood has also honoured his godmother 'Cousin Lilibet' as he recalled a lively visit for her Golden Jubilee.

Leeds councillors pay heartfelt tributes

Over 20,000 watched livestream of Queen lying in state

The number of viewers tuned into the livestream of the Queen lying in state topped 20,000 on a number of occasions within its first hour online.

The service began broadcasting globally via the BBC News website at 5pm on Wednesday, when the doors of Westminster Hall opened to the public.

Mourners could be seen tearful as they filed solemnly past the coffin and paid their respects.

The number of people viewing the dedicated stream quickly rose to about 20,000 and remained there for much of the first hour of broadcast.

The service is also available in the UK on the iPlayer, BBC Parliament and the red button.

Queue tracker now live to see Queen Elizabeth II

A queue of people almost three miles long has started moving gradually forward as well-wishers queue to see the monarch lying in state.

The line has the capacity to stretch for 10 miles, but there is no guarantee that everyone who joins it will get to file past the coffin.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is running a live queue tracker to pinpoint the end of the line which can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=9NpZuGxSgZY

At 5pm, the tracker showed the queue was approximately 2.9 miles long, stretching past London Bridge.

How to watch Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster Hall

Leeds-born woman flew from Rome to London to watch the procession

A woman who gave her name only as Carol, 79, flew to London from Rome to make sure she could attend the procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

Carol, who has lived in the Italian capital for the last 50 years, said: “I wanted to be here for this historic occasion.”

She added that she had seen the Queen once during her lifetime, as a young child when the monarch and Philip visited her birthplace of Leeds shortly after their marriage in 1947.

“They passed in front of our street and Prince Philip got out of the car – which shocked people as it was against protocol at the time,” said Carol, who did not give her surname.