King George V's Lying-in-state Begins

Eighty years ago today the public lying-in-state of the body of George V began in Westminster Hall. By the time that doors closed at 10.30pm, 110,000 people had filed past the coffin. At one point the queue stretched for a mile. George V had been respected by the British people rather than loved during his lifetime, but the scale of the attendance showed how strong the feeling was. It also illustrates how important the monarchy was. The Hall was emptied of the public shortly before 6pm to allow Edward VIII and his mother to spend ten minutes paying their respects.