Mourners joining long queue to 'affirm own identity': 'Queen embodies Britishness'
Hundreds of thousands of mourners have been joining the queue across London to see the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall since Wednesday evening.
Stephen Reicher discusses crowd behaviour in queues
Speaking on Sky News about the queue, Professor Stephen Reicher, a social psychology specialist who has conducted research into crowd behaviour, has said that many of the people queuing have done so to "affirm their own identity" as Queen "embodies Britishness".
Professor Reicher said: "I often try to reduce this to a single reason.
"We say that everybody is there in grief, or everyone is united there in respect."
He added: "When you take to people, when you look closely, you find there are a variety of motives.
"Certainly for some people, they are in genuine grief, they define themselves as British, the Queen is the embodiment of Britishness.
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"In a sense, her loss is a loss of a little bit of themselves, so death is personal, and they grieve."
He continued: "What's more, in taking part, there's a sense of obligation, you have to do that to affirm your identity.
"In that sense, actually the fact it's a difficult thing to do is part of the experience."
The Queen lying-in-state opened to the public on Wednesday, September 14 at 5pm.
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The wait time has, at some points, exceeded 24 hours.
Queue volunteers had warned mourners to prepare for all weather conditions and cool temperatures.
They advised those hoping to queue to wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as well as to stay hydrated and bring snacks.
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The Queen's coffin will lie in state until 6:30am on Monday September 19 - the day of her state funeral.
The late monarch's funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey, from 11am BST.
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