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

Thousands of people have taken their spots in the queue for the Queen’s lying in state as the public prepares to pay its last respects.

The line has the capacity to stretch back 10 miles, with no guarantee that everyone who joins it will get to file past the late monarch’s coffin in Westminster Hall.

Nevertheless, people are turning out in droves for the opportunity to say a personal farewell ahead of the Queen’s funeral on Monday.

Doors are set to open at 5pm on Wednesday, but by 2pm the line already stretched far past Westminster Bridge and beyond County Hall.

To help avoid disappointment, it is understood that entry to the back of the queue may be closed early, although it is too early to estimate when that moment might come.

The Queen’s coffin was wheeled along The Mall on a gun carriage as the procession made its way to Westminster Hall.

A crown was placed on a purple cushion on top of the coffin which glistened in the afternoon sunshine.

The crown was positioned in front of a wreath made up of white roses, spray white roses, white dahlias and a selection of foliage, including pine.

Big Ben is tolling at one-minute intervals as the procession makes its way to the Palace of Westminster.

The Queen’s coffin has left Buckingham Palace for the last time.

Silence fell among the thousands-strong crowd as a muffled drum draped in black was beaten at 75 paces per minute.

The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard, with the Imperial State Crown on a velvet cushion with a wreath of flowers atop, and carried on a gun carriage of King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

The Band of the Scots Guards and the Band of the Grenadier Guards are playing funeral marches throughout the procession, starting with Beethoven’s Funeral March No.1.

The pace and route have been carefully mapped out to allow the procession to reach Westminster Hall at precisely 3pm.

Directly behind the coffin walked the King, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex, followed by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon were behind.

Dressed in black and wearing a hat, Camilla appeared solemn as she passed thousands of well-wishers.

A funeral directors trade body has said there is no blanket postponing of funerals due to be held next Monday in light of the Queen’s state funeral and bank holiday.

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), which represents more than 4,100 UK funeral homes, said some services will go ahead on September 19 but others will be postponed.

The NAFD believes the “vast majority of family wishes are being honoured”, based on conversations with members across the UK.

It said: “Although work is still ongoing, some funerals will go ahead, others are moving to a different date – led by the needs and wishes of the bereaved families involved.

“Most funeral services booked for September 19 will have been arranged many weeks ago, so funeral directors and cemeteries/crematoria are working with families to find the best approach for each one.”

The NAFD said it is up to each crematorium or cemetery operator to decide whether to remain open or to close, based on their local circumstances.

Tens of thousands of people have lined the streets ahead of the Queen’s coffin leaving Buckingham Palace in an hour’s time.

Large Union flags were positioned above the crowds, who are packed in behind temporary barriers.

Uniformed police officers stood in front of those who had lined up to catch a glimpse of the procession from the palace down The Mall to Westminster Hall.

The King waved as he rode past thousands of well-wishers lining The Mall and into Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Queen’s lying in state.

The crowd burst into applause and cheers as the state Rolls-Royce passed the Victoria Memorial and dropped Charles off at the royal residence.

Sir Keir Starmer has urged protesters to “respect” those mourning the Queen, and not “ruin” their opportunity to say a private “thank you” to the late monarch.

The Labour leader said he will return to Westminster Hall with his family to personally pay his respects at the lying in state after he joins the committee receiving the coffin in a professional capacity.

He said the country’s response to the Queen’s death has been “very moving”, and encouraged those who might want to protest to be considerate of people’s grief.

On Tuesday, activists gathered outside St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh carrying “blank canvases” to protest in solidarity against several arrests that have been made in relation to incidents during royal ceremonies.