Seeing this pic - reminded me of joining the queue to see The Queen Mother's coffin in Westminster Hall. Depsite being a Peer of the Realm, I waived my Lordly privaleges and joined the crowd. What a memory!!! It took 7 hours. I joined the line outside the Royal Festival Hall (RFH), not far you would think... but the queue went all the way up to Blackfriars Bridge, and then 3 hours later I was back at the RFH.
The crowd was very good humoured and well disciplined. Is this what we British do best? We held positions for people around us for visits of nature and for refreshments etc, and all "stiff upper lip" etc.
Eventually after being asked by 1 tourist - what the queue was for? Had they been asleep over the previous week? I got to Westminster.... the sound inside the Hall was deafening silence! It was bizarre to see such tranquility and peace, with the sunlight shining off the Queen Mother's Crown and the stillness all around the catafalque etc... and by the side streams of people walking by.
I will never forget this memorable day.
