Queen Elizabeth II's coffin arrives in Westminster to lie in state; Biden sends condolences

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has left Buckingham Palace and is now placed in Westminster Hall where her remains will lie in state for four days.

Crowds of people lined the streets of central London on Wednesday, hours before the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II began its journey from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew followed close behind the coffin's procession while the band led the line in melancholy and triumphant sound. Horses and guards lined the perimeter of the late monarch's coffin. 

People in the crowd cheered when Charles waved to them as he drove from his residence, Clarence House, to the palace.

Thursday updates: Line wraps for miles as mourners wait to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II

The crowds are the latest manifestation of a nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the only monarch most Britons have ever known, who died at her beloved Balmoral summer retreat Thursday at age 96, ending a 70-year reign.

“It’s a very sad day, but it’s our last opportunity to do our duty for the queen and it’s our first opportunity to do it for the king, and that makes us all very proud,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, of the Household division, who is responsible for organizing the ceremonial aspects of the queen’s funeral.

President  Joe Biden personally calls King Charles ahead of procession

President Joe Biden offered personal condolences to King Charles III in his first converation with the new king since Queen Elizabeth II's death.

Biden, who last saw the queen during a visit to Windsor Castle last year, recalled with fondness her kindness and hospitality, according to a statement from the White House.

The president said Queen Elizabeth’s dignity and constancy deepened the strong ties between the two nations. He told the king he hopes they can “continue a close relationship.”

The White House has not said what meetings Biden might have with Britain’s new prime minister or others while in England for the queen’s funeral.

Queen Elizabeth's coffin enters Westminster Hall with choir vocals

The procession began at the Buckingham Palace arch and ended outside the doors of Westminster Palace, where pallbearers dismounted the queen's remains from the horse-drawn carriage.

With specific instructions, the bearer party uniformly carried the decorated coffin of Queen Elizabeth into Westminster Hall while a choir rang out Psalm 139, filling the acoustic venue with angelic sound.

The coffin was then placed on pedestal lined with candles where it will sit for the next four days until the state funeral Monday.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, opened the lying-in-state service with an opening prayer. Members of the royal family, including King Charles' wife Camilla, Prince William's wife Kate and Prince Harry's wife Duchess Meghan stood behind the casket and participated in the Lord's Prayer before the choir began another song.

Camilla, Kate and Meghan did not walk in the procession. Instead, they arrived by car.

King Charles, Princess Anne follow close in somber march

Guards stiffly marched by Queen Elizabeth II's side as her coffin was carried through the streets to be seen publicly by mourners.

After the barrier of guardsmen escorting the queen, the royal family marched close behind with King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince William wearing formal military uniforms. Prince Harry and Prince Andrew wore formal coattails with military patches attached to the chest. Though they served in the military, they are not working royal members.

Teary onlookers watched from the barricades, capturing the moment on their cellphones as their longest reigning monarch's remains passed by.

Carole Perver, 79, of West Sussex, southern England, was among the people who gathered on Whitehall to watch the coffin as it made its way to the nearby Palace of Westminster.

“I saw her coronation when I was a little girl, when she was crowned,” she said. “And she's just always been perfect for our country. She’s so special. … She’s very loved. I think we miss her greatly, it’s very emotional.”

Horses for queen's procession trained for handling mourners, flowers

Troops involved in the procession have been preparing for this day since the queen died. So have the horses of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Sgt. Tom Jenks, from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, said the horses have undergone special training, including how to handle weeping mourners, as well as flowers and flags tossed onto streets as the procession passes.

More: Queen Elizabeth’s flag-draped casket arrives at Buckingham Palace in London

People stood behind metal barriers or sat on folding chairs, umbrellas at the ready, coffees in hand under gray skies hours before the coffin's scheduled time of departure.

Marshals in yellow jackets shepherded the public through cordoned-off sidewalks before they took their positions on Whitehall, close to the Houses of Parliament as helicopters flew overhead.

What to expect as the queen lies in state

Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state at London’s medieval Westminster Hall for four days until her funeral on Monday. While there, the public is encouraged to pay their respects to the late sovereign.

The queen's coffin will be available for viewing for 24 hours a day from 5 p.m. BST Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. on Monday, the day of the state funeral.

Queuing for the queen: The queen will soon lie in state in Westminster Hall. These are the first people in the line.

The closed coffin will be draped with a royal flag and adorned with royal regalia including the Imperial State Crown — the same crown the queen wore for her 1953 coronation. It will set on a catafalque, or a raised platform, in the center of Westminster Hall as royal guards stand 24 hours a day at each corner of the platform.

In the U.K., lying in state is reserved for the sovereign, queen consorts, and sometimes prime ministers.

Queen Mary, King George VI and King George V were among royals who lay in state at Westminster Hall. Winston Churchill was the only British prime minister to have a lying-in-state ceremony in the 20th century.

The last person to lie in state in Britain was Elizabeth’s mother, known as the Queen Mother. Some 200,000 people paid their respects to her over three days when she died in 2002.

Video shows King Charles III expressing frustration over pen ink

King Charles completed the last leg of his U.K. tour making his final stop in Northern Ireland Tuesday, where his visit drew a rare moment of unity from politicians in a region with a contested British and Irish identity that is deeply divided over the monarchy.

Camilla, the queen consort, accompanied her husband during the visit that included a stop by Hillsborough Castle where King Charles III signed the visitor's book, but had a bit of conflict with a leaky pen.

Video of the proclaimed monarch went viral as he expressed his frustrations with the writing utensil.

"I hate this," Charles said while noticing the ink staining his hands. "I can't bare this bloody thing."

Contributing: Elise Brisco, Maureen Groppe and Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA TODAY; The Associated Press 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Queen Elizabeth's coffin lies in state; Biden sends condolences