We had retired guardsmen, who came and saluted, we've had monks from Thailand and an Iraqi family too

Verger Clive McCleester

Mr McCleester said about 3,200 passed through the doors of St George's Chapel on Wednesday and a further 2,400 Thursday.

He said: "We've had people from all over Britain and the world.

"We had retired guardsmen, who came and saluted, we've had monks from Thailand and an Iraqi family too."

'Private moment'

The verger said the queues were caused by people taking their time as they passed through the chapel.

"They all want to have a private moment once they get there, and we don't want to hurry them," he said.

The 101-year-old's coffin was placed next to that of her late husband, King George VI, and a casket containing the ashes of their daughter, Princess Margaret, who died two months ago.

The chapel will be open to the public until 19 April.

'Fitting' tribute

Revealing plans for the floral tributes left for the Queen Mother, a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the bouquets would be removed on Friday.

"There were many hundreds of bouquets left in the Queen Mother's honour," she said.

"The flowers will now be taken away and made into mulch, which will be used as compost in the Royal Parks.

"This has happened in the past, notably with the flowers left for Diana, Princess of Wales, and we feel it is a fitting way for them to be used."