There are increasing calls for the route of the Queen’s funeral to be extended so that more people can pay their respects.
Yesterday, senior members of parliament joined the call to extend the late monarch’s final journey from Westminster Abbey on Monday.
There is concern that tens of thousands of individuals will be dissatisfied with the current plans, as they will not all be able to join the lengthy line to view the lying-in-state in Parliament this week or observe the walking procession to Hyde Park Corner after the funeral.
Robert Hardman of the Daily Mail said yesterday that the final leg of the journey to the Queen’s ultimate resting place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor should be extended.
Yesterday, members of the public paid their respects as they passed Queen Elizabeth II’s casket as it lay in state in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster.
Friday in the House of Commons, members of Parliament observe a minute of silence for Queen Elizabeth II.
Currently, the coffin is scheduled to travel directly along the final segment of the Long Walk to the castle, but it might traverse the entire three-mile walk, allowing hundreds of thousands of additional mourners to line the road.
In 1997, the starting point for Princess Diana’s funeral cortege was moved from St. James’s Palace to Kensington Palace at the eleventh hour, adding a mile and allowing tens of thousands more people to pay their respects. A last-minute change in the plan in response to the overwhelming public demand would be analogous to the unexpected decision to allow more people to view the cortege by moving the starting point from St. James’s Palace to Kensington Palace.
Former Cabinet member David Jones stated yesterday night: ‘It appears unlikely that everyone who wishes to attend the lying in state will be allowed to do so, given there will be an incredible demand. We’re discussing wait times of over 30 hours.
“What has been abundantly evident over the past few days is the immense affection that people have for The Queen and the fact that so many people will mourn her now that she has passed away. Therefore, I believe that anything that allows as many people as possible to pay their respects is a good idea. I believe it to be a good idea, and I hope they will consider it.
As of 8:40 p.m. yesterday, the line to see the Queen lying in state at Westminster Hall runs all the way to London Bridge.
Former cabinet minister David Jones (above) stated, “We’re talking about over thirty-hour waits to view the Queen lying in state.”
Another senior Conservative concurred, stating, “I can see why the route should be extended.
This could alleviate the pressure on the queues forming to see Her Majesty in Westminster Hall, as there are many people who wish to see the late Queen. Peter Whittle, a former member of the London Assembly, stated, “The solution is straightforward: the funeral procession should be lengthened.”
At the Jubilee, it was aggravating how officials ‘closed’ the route, claiming it was at capacity.
This is a typical example of modern overcaution and risk aversion. Nobody should be denied access, whether on the path or at the memorial service.
The line of people waiting to pay their respects to the Queen may reach 10 kilometres in length. Yesterday evening, members of the public lined up on Lambeth Bridge.
However, Downing Street has played down the possibility of a last-minute plan change.
The Prime Minister’s spokeswoman stated, “The procession route has been predetermined with the Palace, and there are no plans to alter it.” People can take a variety of procession routes, so we want as many people as possible to see the parade.’
And a veteran royal protection officer with the Metropolitan Police cautioned that altering the meticulously planned Operation London Bridge, the long-standing procedures for the Queen’s death, at short notice would be hazardous.
Ken Wharfe, who served as Princess Diana’s bodyguard, told the Daily Mail, “The Queen herself has been involved in this for decades — it is etched in stone.”
‘And the police would not like to amend it on short notice, as their resources are already pushed to the limit. When attempting to make changes to appease the public, the risk increases.