Workers erected cordons and thousands of police officers were mobilized as London prepared for its grand farewell to Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday.

The late monarch’s coffin arrived in the British capital from Scotland, where she died last Thursday, before hundreds of thousands are expected to pay their respects while she lies in state.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” security guard Rumesh told AFP near Parliament, where the coffin will rest.

“You can feel it’s coming and it’s going to be huge.”

Queues will stretch for miles along the River Thames as British media have speculated around 750,000 mourners will wait patiently to pass the Queen in the four days leading up to her funeral on September 19.

By Tuesday morning, only a small group of the diehard royal supporters – surrounded by dozens of journalists – had set up camp at the front of the line opposite the Houses of Parliament.

“Starting tomorrow morning, the queue will be crazy,” Rumesh said.

“It’s the calm before the storm.”

Authorities have already put in motion a well-prepared plan called London Bridge, which has been ready for years for a grandiose period of national mourning and state burial following the Queen’s death.

Newly appointed London Police Chief Mark Rowley has described the coming days as a “massive challenge” but insisted the force had been preparing for “many, many years”.

Thousands of police officers have been mobilized as around 500 leaders, including US President Joe Biden, are set to invade the capital next Monday in what has been dubbed “the funeral of the century”.

Strict airport-style security checks have been put in place for those hoping to see the Queen’s coffin as it is.

A system of wristbands is in place for those wishing to use the dozens of portable toilets installed along the River Thames and to keep their place in line.

Not only the streets will be overcrowded: hotels around the city center are already fully booked despite sharp price increases.

London transport authorities have warned commuters of inevitable disruption and pubs are preparing for rush hours.

“We know for sure it’s going to be very crowded,” said Mantas Butkus, who works at a pub near Westminster.

He said additional staff had been rounded up for the coming days.

“It’s the first time we’ve had to deal with something like this, so we can’t really know what to expect,” he said.

Given the expected crowds, Joseph Afrane had already given up the idea of ??seeing the coffin in Westminster.

Instead, he has been waiting near Buckingham Palace since Sunday to catch a glimpse of the hearse bringing the coffin from the airport.

“It’s safer,” he said.

“There’s going to be chaos in Westminster and, you know, although it’s sad, the atmosphere here is actually quite nice.”

Outside the royal residence, some of the shock and sadness of the first few hours after the Queen’s death has evaporated.

While some red-eyed visitors still laid flowers, others in a happier mood walked around and took selfies in front of the tributes.

“Basically, I’m here to be here. to be part of everything. It’s living history and I was dying to come and see it,” said Alice Colley, 27.

“There is sadness, of course, but also a kind of excitement. People just want to be here, they’re curious to see it because we know we won’t see it again any time soon.”