‘Someone will get hurt’: Chaotic scenes at Buckingham Palace after Queen’s death

Crowds at Buckingham Palace were so desperate to get a glimpse of the new King they climbed surrounding walls. Not even police could stop them.

Crowds at Buckingham Palace on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Chantelle Francis

Crowds at Buckingham Palace in London were so desperate to get a glimpse of the new King that police could not stop them chaotically climbing the walls near the palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial directly outside.

As police began to clear the roads leading to the palace and a helicopter circled above on Saturday afternoon local time – a sign someone important could be leaving or arriving – a sea of Brits and tourists stretching all the way up The Mall hurried to get a better spot.

Not even the stone walls – or a police officer’s orders – could hold them back.

Crowds were so desperate to get a glimpse of the new King they climbed the boundary walls surrounding the palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial. Picture: Chantelle Francis

News.com.au witnessed an officer shouting at the crowd to stop, concerned someone would get hurt, as parents continued to push their children up and over the wall.

Parents claimed they had been separated from their children, with the officer giving a few people permission to jump over.

But even as he yelled “that’s it now” the climbing continued.

The crowd heading toward the palace could not see they were going to be stuck behind a wall until it was too late because there was so many people. Picture: Chantelle Francis

Their solution was to climb it. Picture: Chantelle Francis

“No more people climbing over all right because someone is going to get hurt,” the officer yelled to the people below to no avail.

The police officer’s order for people to stop climbing was ignored. Picture: Chantelle Francis

Hours later the crowd were still waiting to spot the King or anyone else of interest.

It is the UK’s second day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II.

Earlier in the day Charles III was officially proclaimed King at St James’s Palace.

For about 24 hours afterwards flags will be flown at full mast and will then return to half-mast in mourning for the Queen.

King Charles III greeted members of the crowd during an impromptu walkabout the day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Others have been desperate to get the opportunity to meet the new monarch since. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II, 96, died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after Buckingham Palace revealed she was under medical supervision amid escalating concerns for her health.

Thousands mourners left flowers for the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Carl Court/Getty Images

They have now been taken to a specific area in Green Park to create the Floral Tribute Garden. Picture: Loic Venance / AFP

The morning after the Queen’s death people queued for a kilometre – at times in the rain – to lay flowers on the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Brit Emma Kobleck, who brought along her daughter Meadow, was emotional explaining to news.com.au they were there on behalf of Emma’s late nan, Rosemary Nye.

“My whole family loved the Queen, especially my nan who has passed away, so I’ve come here with a note she would have wanted me to put down,” she said, holding back tears. “We’re going to miss her.”

Flowers left at the gates of the palace have since been moved to Green Park Floral Tribute Garden.

In his first address to the nation following his mother’s passing, King Charles promised he would deliver “lifelong service” on Friday night.

Originally published as ‘Someone will get hurt’: Chaotic scenes at Buckingham Palace after Queen’s death