Criticising the act, journalist Dominique Samuels told GB news: “I think it’s completely wrong thing to do. Attempt to queue on behalf of others or ask others to queue on your behalf. Only those given wristbands at the end of the queue will be able to stay in the queue.

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other official assistance dogs will be permitted in Westminster Hall. British Sign Language interpreters will also be available to people joining the queue. Former prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip were among those paying their respects to the Queen at Westminster Hall on Thursday morning. Penny Purnell, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, said seeing the Queen lying in state drove home that she "really has gone", adding: "That was quite hard to take." The LAS said the majority of incidents attended were faints and collapses, resulting in head injuries.

Can I take my children to the Queen's lying in state?

Ms Purnell and her friend Jill Scudamore, also aged over 65, joined the queue at about 11am on Wednesday and waited six hours to pay their respects. The scheme will enable people with specific needs to be admitted in the next available entry slot for the Lying-in-State. However, despite the miles long queue, several MPs have been skipping the queue in Westminster Hall to visit Queen’s coffin. A House of Commons spokesperson confirmed that Members of Parliament can view the Queen's coffin without having to queue for miles - and can also bring up to four guests.

Transport for London offers a Turn-up-and-go service to help passengers who require additional assistance, such as people with visual impairments, mobility impairments, and large groups travelling together. This could include providing boarding ramps, help you to move through the station or interchange between trains, and suggesting alternative or step-free routes. Banners, placards, flags, advertising or marketing messages, and other similar items that could be used to cause a disturbance. As of Thursday night the queue was almost five miles long and the waiting time was approximately nine hours. The main queue has step free access and there is a separate accessible route, for those who need it. The accessible route will begin at Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue heading along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster.

There is no parking available at the Palace of Westminster. Visitors are strongly advised to use public transport or taxis, as there are extensive road closures in place in the Westminster area.