Camden’s chief executive Jenny Rowlands at Monday’s meeting

COUNCIL staff are volunteering to help people arriving in London to see the Queen’s coffin as she lies in state at Westminster Hall.

At least half a million people are expected to join a queue which could see waits of 24 hours. Camp beds were being set up by people preparing to sit – and sleep ­– it out. More people are expected to head into London on Monday for one of the biggest events in the nation’s history: Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

Last night there were warnings about how congested transport services were likely to get. Hotels were filling up amid suggestions that prices for rooms were rising due to the huge demand to be in London for the final farewell. Police, meanwhile, have organised one of the biggest security operations in the Met’s history.

On Monday, Camden’s chief executive Jenny Rowlands made a rare contribution at an all-councillor meeting and said staff were standing ready.

“We’re preparing to welcome many people through our borough in the next week who will come to London to mourn, and to be part of saying goodbye to Her Majesty, the Queen,” she said. “We’ve got volunteers, as well as people doing their day jobs, all coming to make sure that those travelling through Camden will feel welcomed, safe and supported.”

She added: “I think people want to do it as part of their public service to recognise her public service. “And for us, we see this, as many of you have said, as a moment of public grieving – something which perhaps we’re not always very good at doing, but something we want to do properly with our community.”

A proclamation event marking the accession of King Charles III was held in Russell Square on Sunday.