King Charles III, Prince William surprise mourners filing past Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin

LONDON — King Charles III and Prince William on Saturday surprised mourners lined up to file past Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, many of whom spent the previous night huddled in the cold to pay their respects.

The two senior royals shook hands and thanked mourners forming the miles-long queue near Lambeth Bridge, according to the BBC.

“It was cold overnight, but we had wonderful companions, met new friends. The camaraderie was wonderful,” Chris Harman of London told The Associated Press, adding, “It was worth it.”

Charles, who has made several impromptu walkabouts since succeeding his mother on Sept. 8, was greeted by cheers when exiting his vehicle along Albert Embankment, the network reported.

“I hope you’re not too frozen,” he was overheard telling one woman.

As the King made his way along the line, a security guard urged mourners to put their “phones down, shake hands and enjoy the moment,” the BBC reported.

Arriving mourners can expect a 16-hour wait Saturday, the AP reported, noting that Friday’s queue stretched at least five miles at one point.

Meanwhile, police arrested a man for his role in a Friday night “disturbance” in Parliament’s Westminster Hall, where the queen’s coffin is lying in state, the news outlet reported.

The man, who got out of line and tried to approach the coffin on its platform, was detained on suspicion of violating public order, the Metropolitan Police force confirmed.

According to the BBC, the following services are scheduled for Saturday:

• Thanksgiving service at Chichester Cathedral
• Requiem eucharist at Rochester Cathedral
• Memorial service of evensong at Bath Abbey
• One-hour commemoration service at Winchester Cathedral
• Service of commemoration at Doncaster Minster

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King Charles III, Prince William surprise mourners LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: King Charles III and Prince William, Prince of Wales arrive to meet emergency service workers at Lambeth HQ on September 17, 2022 in London, England. His Majesty The King thanks Emergency Service workers for their work and support ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images) (Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

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Photos: Crowds gather ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin procession Soldiers of the Household Cavalry ride along The Mall on September 14, 2022, in London. (Marko Djurica - Pool/Getty Images)