A woman from Harrow has arrived to see the Queen lying in state two days before the queue for the event opens up.

Vanessa Nathakumaran, 56, appeared at 12pm to the south of Lambeth bridge where the entrance to the queue is expected to be set up.

Currently infrastructure is being put in place for people to pay their respects to the Queen, whose coffin will be placed in Westminster Hall from 5pm on Wednesday, September 14 until the morning of Monday, September 19.

Ms Nathakumaran, who is staying at a hotel in Lambeth so she does not miss the opportunity to pay her respects, told the PA News Agency that she had admired the Royal Family since she was 10 years old.

Mourners pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

The 56-year-old is an administrative assistant, who grew up in Sri Lanka before moving to the UK to study in the 1980s.

Her great-uncle, Sir Vaithilingam Duraiswamy, was knighed by King George VI for services to Sri Lanka, and her daughter Praveena has met the Queen as an air cadet.

Ms Nathakumaran said: “I’m really proud that our family got involved in some of the Queen’s life and the start of her reign."

Speaking on why she wants to see the Queen lying in state, she said: “Because she has done a good service. She was very devoted. She has done a service to our country, Britain and also international and the Commonwealth.

Harrow Times: Vanessa Nathakumaran arrived at the south of Lambeth bridge early (PA)Vanessa Nathakumaran arrived at the south of Lambeth bridge early (PA) (Image: PA)

“I do respect her way of kindness, how she treats everyone equal, the religions and the communities. She sees everyone as equal.”

She said she had arrived so early so she doesn't miss out on the chance to get into Westminster Hall, due to the queue potentially getting so long.

On preparing for the long nights and days ahead, Ms Nathakumaran said she is going to call her daughters to change her bag and bring warmer clothes and glucose bars to keep her energy up.

Security staff and stewards are lined up at regular intervals along the expected queue route, which stretches from Parliament’s tourist entrance at Cromwell Green down Millbank, past the Lords and Victoria Tower Gardens, across Lambeth Bridge and loops back north on the other side of the river past the Covid Memorial Wall.