People queuing to see Queen lying in state face ‘less than 10%’ chance of rain

Mourners who face queues as long as 20 hours to see the Queen lying in state will be boosted by an optimistic weather forecast.

The Met Office believes those facing the daunting lines in London stand a ‘less than 10% chance’ of waiting in the rain – much like fellow well-wishers in Scotland.   

People will be able to view the coffin this afternoon in Edinburgh, with well-wishers able to come to St Giles’ cathedral from 5pm.

Elizabeth II’s body will remain there for around 24 hours until it is taken by an RAF plane to the capital before lying in state for four days in Westminster Hall.

A senior Buckingham Palace official said the late monarch would arrive in the afternoon of Wednesday, September 14, and leave at 6.30am on the day of her funeral, next Monday, September 19.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to file in to pay their respects – and officials fear queues of some five miles could last around 20 hours, amid an unprecedented security operation.

But there is better news on the weather front.

Marco Petagna, a Met Office forecaster, said: ‘(Today) will be quite a cloudy day in Edinburgh with some patchy, light rain, however there’s every sign this will improve by the afternoon.

‘Later in the day it should become a lot brighter with a reasonable amount of sunshine, temperature-wise staying fair at around 17°C, despite a fresher north-westerly breeze, growing cooler overnight.’

He added: ‘(Tomorrow) in the Scottish capital should be fine, with a fair amount of sunshine.’

Turning to the prospects for the capital, Mr Petagna continued: ‘London should be fairly cloudy that day, yet rather warm at 22°C, but the evening will be of some concern as thundery showers move in from the south.

‘From Wednesday and until the funeral there will be a dry and fresher feel, with a fair amount of cloud and cooler winds and a less than 10% chance of rain.’

His colleague Alex Deakin said there would be ‘some outbreaks of rain across southern England’ on Wednesday – meaning there is a chance of some people getting wet.

Further details of arrangements for the public hoping to attend will be announced in the coming days.

But one person has already begun queueing to see the Queen in state in London.

Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, from Harrow, arrived at noon today – more than 48 hours before the queue opens on Wednesday at 5pm.

Asked why she had arrived to queue so early, she said: ‘I really really want to be part of it.’

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