How mourners lined streets to see Queen’s father King George VI lying in state

Strains to see the King’s coffin had been nicknamed ‘the Nice Queue’ by Londoners (Image: Getty)

Hundreds watched on in the present day as historical past unfolded in London.

The Queen’s coffin handed via the town from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Corridor forward of mendacity in state for individuals to say closing goodbyes.

Big crowds craned their necks and held up cameras as King Charles led his household in the course of the sombre procession.

He was flanked by his sons, William and Harry, who adopted intently behind.

The monarch’s siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward had been additionally at his aspect as they walked via the town.

Tonight, a winding queue stretches via the town as individuals anxiously await the possibility to bid closing farewells to the Queen’s coffin.

Pictures of giant crowds, snaking traces and mournful faces hark again to 1952 when the coffin of the Queen’s father, George VI, handed via the town.

Silence fell on Edgeware Highway because the funeral cortege of King George VI handed in 1952 (Image: Thurston Hopkins/Image Submit/Getty Pictures)

Crowds await the Queen’s coffin on its journey to Westminster Corridor in the present day: September 14, 2022 (Image: AFP)

King George had died on February 6, 1952, aged 56, after battling lung most cancers. The younger Elizabeth was knowledgeable of the information whereas in Kenya with Prince Philip.

Buckingham Palace instructed the world at 11.15am that day, releasing the next assertion: ‘The King, who retired to relaxation final night time in his normal well being, handed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning.’ 

George VI’s casket was later drawn in procession to Westminster Corridor the place, just like the Queen’s is now, it was to lie in state.

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On February 11 in 1962, the Royal Household made their manner via the streets of London to accompany the casket on its journey.

The cortege of late King George VI because it turned from Kingsway into Aldwych in 1952 (Image: AP)

King Charles, accompanied by his shut kinfolk, selected to stroll throughout in the present day’s procession (Image: PA)

The Dukes of Gloucester and Edinburgh adopted the coffin on foot, adopted by members of the late monarch’s royal family.

Fairly than stroll, as King Charles did in the present day, the then-25-year-old Elizabeth II travelled by automotive with Queen Mary, the Queen Mom and Princess Margaret.

Huge crowds had lined the path to catch a glimpse of the royal entourage passing.

Many wore black as an indication of respect in direction of the household.

Britain has all the time had a keenness for an organised queue (Image: William Vanderson/Fox Photographs/Getty Pictures)

An internet monitoring system is out there for these ready to see the Queen’s coffin this week (Image: AFP)

When the procession reached Westminster Corridor, the coffin was then fastidiously positioned on a dais below a vigil guard.

For these unable to make it to the capital, the occasions of the day had been broadcast intimately on tv and in addition by radio.

BBC presenter Richard Dimbleby’s poignant commentary on the occasion would go down in historical past.

He instructed listeners: ‘By no means safer, higher guarded, lay a sleeping king than this, with a golden candlelight to heat his resting place, and the muffled footsteps of his devoted topics to maintain him firm.’

Hundreds waited to pay their final respects to the late King George VI (Image: Monty Fresco/Topical Press Company/Getty Pictures)

As compared: queues on Lambeth Embankment in London (Image: Alex Lentati/LNP)

At Westminster Corridor, the general public had been permitted to view the coffin and, at instances, queued for 4 miles to take action.

Strains had been nicknamed ‘The Nice Queue’ as that they had reached such a size.

King George VI had died in February, which means that these wishing to pay their respects needed to wait in freezing circumstances.

However, regardless of the climate, individuals nonetheless flocked to London of their droves to say their closing goodbyes.

‘The Nice Queue by Londoners’ (Image: The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Pictures)

Over the following three days some 304,000 individuals handed by the late King’s coffin.

The numbers had been decrease than that they had been for George V, which was put all the way down to the consequences of the widespread tv protection.

After the ultimate day of mendacity in state it took a workforce of three jewellers two hours to wash the mud off the crown jewels which lay on the coffin, in preparation for the funeral.

Many years on from George VI’s dying in 1952, the nation now turns to remembering the Queen.

Policemen organise the crowds of individuals queuing to view King George VI in 1952 (Image: Night Commonplace/Getty Pictures)

Britain’s climate has been simply as temperamental in 2022 (Credit: Jack Dredd/Shutterstock)

Like for her father, large queues have constructed throughout the town by these anxious to get an opportunity to say closing goodbyes.

Royal followers can even monitor out how lengthy the queue to Westminster Corridor on-line. Earlier in the present day, it had stretched again 2.5 miles via the town.

Obstacles and moveable bathrooms have been arrange in Westminster in anticipation of as much as a million guests.

The Queen will lie in state for 4 days earlier than the nation says goodbye at her funeral on Monday morning.

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