Royal walkabout reflects informal stylepublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 17 September 2022

13:21 BST 17 September 2022

Sean Coughlan
BBC News, royal correspondent

Image source, Reuters

This unscheduled walk about gave us a glimpse of a more approachable, literally hands-on style of monarchy.

"Hope you didn’t get frozen last night,” said King Charles to one of those waiting.

His visit brought a warm response from the crowd who passed on their own condolences. “Sorry for your loss,” said one well-wisher.

Prince William was also there, commending a woman for her choice of wearing trainers for such a long wait.

The crowd queuing the along the Thames also reflected this informal style, calling out: “William, William."

He thanked them for waiting for so long. They didn’t seem to mind.

Frank Gardner
At Tate Britain

At midday, the government said the accessibility lying-in-state queue had reopened.

But the queue for the accessible queue is now many times longer than it was yesterday afternoon and has acquired an air of permanence.

People are sitting on folding chairs in the sun, waiting for the kiosk that issues those vital wristbands to reopen.

It’s a good natured queue, stretching several blocks eastwards from the Tate Britain.

This morning it’s being attended by maroon-bereted Paratrooper Engineers and Naval ratings in blue working dress.

One woman told me she had been waiting here for six hours since 06:00 this morning and was still hopeful of getting a slot to file past the coffin of her late sovereign.

After a lengthy stay talking to crowds, the Prince of Wales has now been whisked away in a Range Rover.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

King Charles III has left Albert Embankment in a car, but the Prince of Wales is still greeting people who his father just met.

Like the King, Prince William shook hands and chatted with people who had queued overnight.

He could be heard saying that people in the queue had "made friends for life".

One woman told the prince she was "happy to wait" while another said as she answered the phone "sorry I can't talk right now I've just met Prince William."

The prince shook the paws of the same Paddington Bear toy the King met moments ago.

He told one boy that he was an Aston Villa fan when he was asked which team he supported.

Image source, Reuters

As King Charles III got out of the car along Albert Embankment he was immediately greeted with cheers.

One couple said they met him yesterday in Wales; while another said they had queued through the night having started at 23:45 last night.

"I hope you're not too frozen," the King could be heard telling one woman.

He stood chatting briefly to a woman clutching a Paddington Bear toy who said she had come from Peru.

The Prince of Wales also made a surprise appearance and spent time shaking hands with people in the crowd - he remarked how warm some of them were.

As the King made his way along the queue people were consistently urged by a security guard to put their "phones down, shake hands and enjoy the moment".

Image source, Reuters

King Charles III and the Prince of Wales are making a surprise visit to people on Albert Embankment near Lambeth Palace, who have been queuing since the early hours to pay respects to his mother.

Image source, DCMS

According to the latest updates on the government's lying-in-state queue tracker the estimated waiting time is now up to 14 hours.

First thing this morning it was predicted to be a 24-hour wait to see Queen Elizabeth II's coffin.

The back of the queue is still at Southwark Park, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Image source, Reuters

King Charles III has paid a visit to the Metropolitan Police's central London headquarters New Scotland Yard.

He shook hands with the new commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the new Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

The Prince of Wales also visited New Scotland Yard and spoke with volunteers.

Image source, Reuters

Lauren Moss
In Southwark Park

Image source, Reuters

I am sitting in the bandstand at Southwark Park, at the back of the queue, watching people snake in a line across the grass in zig-zag lines.

Those joining are told to expect up to a 16-hour wait as they make their way to Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the Queen.

I’ve been in this part of south-east London since 05:00 this morning where there’s been a constant stream of mourners making their way down the River Thames pathway in Bermondsey towards Tower Bridge and beyond.

Clothes and layers are very much the theme of the day, and what started off as a very chilly start has warmed up into a gorgeous sunny day.

But those entering the back of the line now could still be queuing in the early hours of tomorrow morning so the advice is to be prepared.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Windsor

Image source, PA Media

Officials say they are expecting up to 100,000 people on the Long Walk in Windsor today.

Members of the public have been heading to Windsor Castle since news of the Queen's death was announced and this weekend thousands are due to experience the atmosphere and lay flowers at the castle gates.

Jonny Dymond
BBC royal correspondent

Much of the weekend will be spent by many preparing in one way or another for Monday's funeral.

Rehearsals by the military, rehearsals by the clergy and preparations by nearly everyone involved in keeping London running for a huge influx of visitors.

After a meeting with the heads of the armed forces, King Charles III will visit the Metropolitan Police control centre that will run the security operation.

Queen Elizabeth II remains in Westminster Hall and around her coffin flows a gentle tide of people paying their respects.

Later today her eight grandchildren will mount the vigil.

The Prince of Wales at the head of her coffin and Prince Harry - who has been given permission by the King to wear his military uniform - at its foot.

Image source, Reuters

In Southwark Park, where the wait to see the Queen's coffin begins, some 2,000 people are joining the queue every hour.

It's not known how many people are in the queue in total - or how many have seen the coffin in Westminster Hall so far. One estimate before the lying-in-state began put the likely total at 350,000.

The lying-in-state ends at 6.30am on Monday, but the queue will close to newcomers before then - it's not yet known exactly when.

Jon Kelly
In Southwark Park

At the queue for wristbands to join the queue proper, the barriers are not yet full. But display boards warn of a 14-hour wait ahead.

People here are clearly anticipating a long stay - most are in warmer clothes than you’d expect for the daytime in London at this time of year, with lots of parkas, hats and big jumpers.

Most are carrying rucksacks and carrier bags filled with provisions to keep them going through the day and night.

Thousands of people continue to join the queue that is snaking its way through central London.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

The Prince of Wales sent Aston Villa a message of support as football returned, Steven Gerrard revealed, after his side beat Southampton as the Premier League returned following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The evening started with a minute's silence and the national anthem before kick-off.

This was followed by a round of applause on 70 minutes to honour the Queen's 70-year reign.

"He messaged in the week, to the club, and that shows everything about what he thinks of this club," Gerrard said.

"It certainly took me aback. He is very much involved in Villa. For him to message in the situation he is in is really impressive.

"He is consistently in touch. He is very supportive of the boys individually. It's really impressive, his knowledge and how much he is in to it."

All English football was called off last weekend after the UK's longest-serving monarch died aged 96.

In the past few minutes King Charles III has arrived at Buckingham Palace.

Yesterday he was in Wales completing his tour of the UK.

Harry Low
BBC London News

Sam Mason has just exited Westminster Hall for the second time in as many days.

The west Londoner first joined the queue at 11.30pm on Thursday, leaving 12 hours later. He went home, had his car serviced and has just completed the queue for the second time. Why?

"It's a part of history and I want to be a part of it," he says. "I've had two hours sleep in 48. I'm going home to bed."

What was the difference in queue management?

"The first time was chaos - they didn't have a clue what they were doing," he says. "The second time was a lot smoother, they sorted out the kinks."

And how did the experience differ inside Westminster Hall?

"The first time the legs hurt, the second time they didn't.

"It's a once in a lifetime," he adds, before I point out that, in his case, it was twice in a lifetime.