The Queue in Bermondsey for Queen Elizabeth II

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With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth entered a period of mourning. The Queen’s coffin had been conveyed from Balmoral to Westminster Hall for her to lie in state with arrangements rapidly activated to handle the huge numbers of mourners who were expected to file past.

Years of planning now were put into action. For the people of Bermondsey that meant The Queue was going to work its way down the river wall, ultimately reaching back to Southwark Park. It was a huge logistical exercise. Police from across the country were called in to support the Metropolitan Police with a huge army of stewards working to keep the crowd safe.

13th September 2022

Signs went up along the line of the queue showing the route to the Lying-in-State. The Queue had started forming in Westminster and into Lambeth, but was nowhere near Bermondsey yet.

Lying-in-state queue sign at Cherry Garden.
Lying-in-state queue sign in place at Cherry Garden.

15th September 2022

Then The Queue just appeared as the end reached Bermondsey and rapidly headed towards the official start point at Southwark Park.

The queue at Cherry Garden, Bermondsey Wall East in the night
Zig zag pen at Potters Fields with purple Tower Bridge at night
Queue passes through Cherry Garden at night, Tower Bridge purple
The queue at night, Fountain Green Square, Bermondsey Wall East
Tower Bridge lit in purple seen from Cherry Garden at night
Lying-in-state queue passing Fountain Green Square
The lying-in-state queue at night, Bermondsey Wall East
Lying-in-state queue crossing Jamaica Road to Cathay Street
Line of people in night at Potters Fields Park by Tower Bridge
The queue at The Angel pub, Bermondsey Wall East in the night
Tower Bridge in purple from More London by HMS Belfast at night
Bermondsey Wall East, Cherry Garden Street to West Lane at night
The queue Bermondsey Wall East by Cherry Garden Street at night

17th September 2022

The number of people at any one point of The Queue ebbed and flowed as it concertinaed. At times The Queue was at a standstill, other times it was moving at a fast walking pace.

Along the length of the queue portable toilets were provided and Thames Water provided drinking water stations. At least one local resident allowed mourners to use her toilet. Hostile vehicle barriers were erected to protect The Queue with local residents inside the barriers showing ID to pass through.

The crowd was always good natured and there was little rubbish.

Sign on crowd control barriers on Carriage Drive, Southwark Park
The Stanley Arms, Southwark Park Road, flying the Royal Standard
Lying-in-state queue at the Angel Pub on Bermondsey Wall East
The lying-in-state queue in Shad Thames, Bermondsey
Looking down the queue in Mill Street to Bermondsey Wall West
The lying-in-state queue in Bermondsey Wall West to George Row
The queue from Loftie Street to Chambers Street, Thames Tideway
The queue at the Angel pub, Bermondsey Wall East
The start of the queue at Southwark Park. Jamaica Road entrance
Walking South down Southwark Park Road to the queue's start
Mourners enter the queue with electronic sign showing wait time
The lying-in-state queue crossing Jamaica Road to Cathay Street
The queue at Dockhead on Jamaica Road, turning into Shad Thames
The lying-in-state queue in Bermondsey Wall West
The lying-in-state queue in Bermondsey Wall West from George Row
The queue at night in Cherry Garden, Bermondsey Wall East
The queue seen West from the Angel pub down Bermondsey Wall East
Entrance to Southwark Park from Southwark Park Road for queue
Boxes of fleece blankets in Southwark Park for queue joiners
The queue passes Potters Fields and City Hall. From Tower Bridge
The lying-in-state queue in Mill Street, looking to Jamaica Road
The lying-in-state queue in Bermondsey Wall West
The queue on Chambers Street, outside Thames Tideway site
The queue at night in Cherry Garden, Bermondsey Wall East
The queue seen in Cathay Street looking South from the Angel pub
The lying-in-state queue crossing Jamaica Road to Cathay Street
The queue passes Potters Fields and City Hall. From Tower Bridge
Sign on crowd control barriers on Carriage Drive, Southwark Park
The lying-in-state queue entering Shad Thames from Jamaica Road
The lying-in-state queue in Bermondsey Wall West from George Row
The queue enters Bermondsey Wall West from East Lane
The queue at Cherry Garden, Bermondsey Wall East
The queue seen West from the Angel pub down Bermondsey Wall East

18th September 2022

Still the mourners kept coming. These pictures were taken at Bermondsey Underground station. The station sign had recently been clipped by a lorry, hence why the text was missing.

Bermondsey tube station, stewards direct mourners to the queue
Mourners leave Bermondsey tube station to join the queue
Mourners on Bermondsey tube station escalator to join the queue
Notices about the lying-in-state at Bermondsey tube station
Walking Jamaica Road from Bermondsey tube station to the queue

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