US President Joe Biden was due to pay his last respects to Queen Elizabeth II in London on Sunday, when ordinary mourners waiting in marathon lines were warned that time was running out to see her coffin in state.

After witnessing the sombre scene in Parliament’s Westminster Hall, Biden, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and other world leaders were to attend a reception with King Charles III. take part.

Biden, who flew in late Saturday, said Charles’ mother “defined an era” after reigning for a record-breaking 70 years before dying on September 8 at the age of 96.

Australia’s anti-monarchy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who viewed the property and met Charles on Saturday, told Sky News Australia that the Queen was “a constant reassuring presence”.

There was also a private audience at Buckingham Palace for New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who, like Australia and 12 other Commonwealth realms, now counts Charles as its sovereign.

“You could see it meant a great deal (to Charles) to have seen the sheer scale and outpouring of people’s love and affection for Her late Majesty,” she told BBC television on Sunday.

But in a sign of the challenges ahead for the new king, Ardern added that she expects New Zealand to drop the British monarchy “in the course of my life”.

The public were already camping out in advance to catch a glimpse of Monday’s grand farewell at Westminster Abbey, set to bring London to a standstill and be watched by billions of viewers worldwide.

EJ Kelly, a 46-year-old schoolteacher from Northern Ireland, secured a prime spot with friends on the route that the procession will take after the funeral.

“It’s wonderful to see it on TV, but being here is different,” she told AFP, outfitted with camp chairs, warm clothes and extra socks.

“I’ll probably be very emotional when it comes down to it, but I wanted to be here to pay my respects.”

Crowds also thronged around Windsor Castle, west of London, where the Queen’s coffin will be driven to a private funeral after the service, to be buried alongside her late husband Prince Philip, her parents and sister.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’ve never felt it so full,” said Donna Lumbard, 32, manager of a local restaurant.

Beginning with a single toll from Big Ben, Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss will initiate a national minute’s silence at 20:00 (1900 GMT) on Sunday to reflect on the Queen’s “life and legacy”.

Near the Scottish town of Falkirk, 96 lanterns were to be lowered into a ‘reflection pool’ at the foot of the Queen Elizabeth II Canal before wreaths were laid in the water.

Those wishing to see the flag-draped coffin have until 06:30 (0530 GMT) on Monday to make it into the cavernous Westminster Hall opposite the Abbey.

As the line continued to snake for miles along the Thames on Sunday, the wait was more than nine hours and the line is likely to be closed until evening.

“To avoid disappointment, please do not wait in line,” the government said.

Andy Sanderson, 46, a supermarket section manager, waited in line and finally reached Parliament.

“She was the glue that held the country together,” he said.

“She doesn’t have an agenda, unlike politicians, so she can speak for the people.”

As mourners slowly filed past on Saturday night, Prince William and his estranged younger brother Prince Harry led the Queen’s eight grandchildren around the coffin in a 12-minute vigil.

Harry – who served on two tours with the British Army in Afghanistan – wore the uniform of the Blues and Royals cavalry regiment in which he served.

The move appeared to be the last olive branch Charles offered to Harry and his wife Meghan after they gave up royal duties and relocated to North America, where they later accused the royal family of racism.

Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral, the first in Britain since the death of her first Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1965, will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday at 11am.

Reflecting on the Queen’s wishes for the hour-long ceremony, former Archbishop of York John Sentamu said she “didn’t want what you would call long, boring services”.

“People’s hearts and cockles are being warmed,” he told BBC television.

Leaders from Russia, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria and North Korea were not invited to join the 2,000 guests.

Moscow’s foreign ministry last week called the decision “deeply immoral” and “blasphemous” in memory of the queen. China will participate in the abbey but has been barred from the property by parliamentary leaders.

While her private mourning played out in the glare of global attention, a new YouGov opinion poll showed the royal family’s popularity in the UK has risen.

William and his wife Kate topped the list of most popular royals, while Charles saw his approval ratings rise 16 points since May.

The Queen’s second son, Prince Andrew, in shame at his ties to billionaire and US pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, paid tribute to the Queen’s “infinite knowledge and infinite wisdom without limit or containment” on Sunday.

Camilla made her first public comments as the Queen’s new consort, recalling her mother-in-law’s smile and “wonderful blue eyes”.

“It must have been so difficult for her to be a lonely woman” in a male-dominated world, Charles’ wife said in TV commentary.

“There were no female prime ministers or presidents. She was the only one, so I think she carved her own role.”