Mourners queuing in London to see the Queen lying-in-state shed tears this morning as they remembered what the Queen means to their own families.
Crowds have waited for hours to visit the monarch’s coffin at Westminster Hall from 5pm until the morning of the state funeral on Monday.
Some in line are grieving for the Queen just as they would a family member.
Nick Roberts travelled alone on the train from Meopham, Kent, to pay respects to the monarch and his own late mother, Jean.
He said: “About 10 years ago last month was the anniversary. She always loved the Queen and the Royal Family.
“In tribute to her I came up for the Diamond Jubilee, when they had all the barges and it was pouring with rain – that was just around the time that mum died.
“When I put some flowers down at her grave yesterday I had a little chat with her about what’s going on up here.
“I put a couple of candles down, one for my mum, one for the Queen, and I thought I must come up out of respect because they’re both good ladies.”
Nick added: “My mum was a very lovely character, a real angel. She had five kids and my dad, he was a handful. She would have been upset, very upset. She had a very kind heart, very soft.
“I would have brought her up, she very much liked to do things like that. Her and my father went to the coronation.”
Thinking about the moment he will see the coffin, Nick said: “I don’t think there’s any point getting too upset about it – it’s more pay your respects but celebrate a good life, because she’s up there. Like my mum, she’s in heaven.”
Sunita Sisodia who arrived in the UK from India at the age of 16 sat in the queue with her sister Puti in order to thank the Queen for the inclusivity she promoted throughout her reign.
The 55-year-old from Northolt saw the Queen’s coffin arrive at RAF Northolt from Mount Vernon Hospital where she was working last night.
She has got the day off work to wait in line.
Sunita said: “She’s a very good woman. We can’t forget about her. All my life we’ve been living here, about 40 years.
“That’s why we love her – all my family, my brother, my mother’s side, my sister’s side – because Great Britain is always in our hearts, in Indian people’s hearts.”
Sunita remembered seeing a 100-year-old man receive a birthday card from the Queen on the news.
“She sent a special card because she didn’t care what country you come from, which part, which language you speak,” she said.
Sunita’s favourite royal is now Prince Edward: “She has four children, but the youngest one – he’s not like the favourite – but he understands his mum’s problems.
The emotion overwhelmed Sunita as she welled up with tears thinking about seeing the Queen’s coffin.
“I don’t have any words,” she said. “It will look like my grandmother, look like my mother.”
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