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H S Rao in London
An estimated 250,000 people lined up the streets to watch the Queen Mother's body being taken from St James' Palace to Westminster Hall in London on Friday.
The coffin was draped in the Queen Mother's personal standard and surmounted by her Kohinoor diamond-encrusted crown.
The 101-year-old Queen Mother, who died on Saturday, had rarely worn the crown except during the coronation of her husband King George VI in 1937.
After the funeral, the crown would be taken back and kept in a highly secured glass case at the Tower of London.
Three generations of the royal family joined the 30-minute parade.
Prince Charles and his two sons, princes Williams and Harry, walked behind the gun carriage bearing the coffin to the hall, where it will lie-in-state until Tuesday's funeral.
The coffin was topped with a single wreath of white roses and freesias from Queen Elizabeth, and accompanied by a card reading 'In Loving Memory, Lilibet'.
The Queen, dressed in black, did not join the procession, but went to Westminster Hall for the prayer service marking the beginning of the lying-in-state.
Members of Parliament, headed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, members of the House of Lords and many other VIPs, including commonwealth representatives, were present at the hall.
PTI
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