THE SQUIZ
The Queen is getting closer to her final resting place after King Charles led a procession on foot behind her coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall overnight. He was joined by his siblings, Anne, Andrew and Edward, and there was a rare outing together for Princes William and Harry. Queen Consort Camilla, Princess Catherine, Duchess Meghan and Countess Sophie (Prince Edward’s wife) made the 2km journey by car. They were accompanied by 500 members of the military marching in full uniform to the sound of classical funeral marches. The procession was slow and sombre, with troops rehearsing almost non-stop for 4 days to ensure perfection. On arrival, the Archbishop of Canterbury conducted a short service with the royal family.

DID THE PEOPLE TURN OUT?
They sure did, and here are some pics of it all to peruse. And the first people have started filing through the Hall to view the Queen’s coffin as it lies in state until 3:30pm our time on Monday. Authorities tried to deter people from camping overnight, but it has done little to quell what is now thought to be a 7km queue along the River Thames. There are 10,000 police in London trying to maintain order, and a system has been devised to give people numbered wristbands, along with online updates about queuing times and warnings that mourners will need to stand for hours. Authorities also say the queue could be closed anytime, so there are no guarantees. For those who make it in, there are a lot of rules, including a long list of prohibited items, a code of conduct, and airport-style screening checks. And anyone hoping for a royal selfie can keep dreaming… Photography and filming are banned.

SO LONDON IS CHOCKERS, I BET…
It’s estimated that 1 million people have descended on London – that’s on top of the city’s 9 million residents, so it’s making for a seriously congested city… But there are more to come, including PM Anthony Albanese, Governor General David Hurley and their partners, who are flying to London today ahead of Monday’s funeral. And there are 500+ other world leaders and dignitaries who will join them – but there are some notable exceptions… Russia, Belarus and Myanmar have been excluded. Russian President Vladimir Putin was struck off the list over the invasion of Ukraine, which has been supported by Belarus. Myanmar was also snubbed as its ruling military stands accused of “depraved” acts of violence against democracy activists. Those nations’ leaders can probably bet they won’t receive a Christmas card from the new king either…