'She never gave up, so why should we?' Britons determined to join lying-in-state queue despite closure

Record ID: 1689227

  • Title: 'She never gave up, so why should we?' Britons determined to join lying-in-state queue despite closure
  • Date: 16th September 2022
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 16, 2022) (REUTERS) STEWARD BEHIND CLOSED GATE TELLING PUBLIC THAT QUEUE TO VIEW THE LYING-IN-STATE OF BRITAIN'S QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS CLOSED MEMBER OF PUBLIC AND STEWARD TALKING QUEUE FORMING OUTSIDE ENTRANCE TO MAIN QUEUE STEWARD TELLING MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO GO HOME / PUBLIC COMPLAINING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON WAITING TO JOIN QUEUE, DAVID SMITH FROM BIRMINGHAM ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE EILEEN SMITH, SAYING: "We're actually at the end of the queue. they're saying that it's closed. And as you may have just heard, they're saying, well, we're going to have to send everybody away." QUEUE OUTSIDE ENTRANCE TO JOIN MAIN QUEUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PERSON WAITING TO JOIN QUEUE, DAVID SMITH FROM BIRMINGHAM ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE EILEEN SMITH, SAYING: "Well, quite simply it's our queen. you know? I mean, she would've done the same for us. Yeah, she kept everything moving. And she never gave up so why should we give up?" QUEUE OUTSIDE ENTRANCE TO JOIN MAIN QUEUE
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2022 13:36
  • Keywords: closed death line lying-in-state paused queen queue
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: UK
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Royals
  • Reuters ID: LVA001584316092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: People hoping to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II on Friday (September 16) were determined to join the miles-long queue despite a temporary closure.
    The British government's culture department announced a six-hour pause on people joining the queue earlier in the day as the the five mile (eight kilometre) line reached capacity.
    "It's our queen. you know? I mean, she would've done the same for us," said David Smith who was waiting in line outside the main gates that allows access to the lying in state queue.
    Smith, together with his wife Eileen, said they had travelled three hours from the city of Birmingham to attend the lying-in-state.
    Despite being told by one steward to go home, David and Eileen said they would stay as long as necessary to join the line, even if it meant missing their coach back to Birmingham.
    "She never gave up so why should we give up?" he added.
    Stewards suggested heading to restaurants and cafes in the area where queuers could find refreshments and use bathrooms.
    On Friday night, King Charles, who was visiting Wales earlier in the day, and his sister Princess Anne and brothers Princes Andrew and Edward will keep a silent vigil around the coffin, joining the ceremonial guard for a 15-minute period.
    The coffin stands in the ancient Westminster Hall on a purple catafalque, draped in the Royal Standard and with the bejewelled Imperial Crown of State placed on top.
    (Production: Thomas Holdstock)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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