A royal superfan has told of her emotional visit to see the Queen Lying-in-State - and has become a bit of a star after the BBC documented her journey.

Anita Atkinson, widely known as County Durham’s most ardent monarchist, travelled to London on Wednesday to guarantee her place ahead of the historic procession to Westminster Hall where Her Majesty will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.

Ms Atkinson, 56, who has been collecting royal memorabilia all her life and has around 12,000 items at her converted dairy farm in Weardale, queued for around eight hours to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s coffin for one final time.

After witnessing the procession on The Mall she joined the queue for Westminster Hall at around 5pm and was handed a wristband baring the number 8,368, signifying her place in the queue.

But the long wait did not phase Ms Atkinson, for she has dedicated her whole life to the royal family, though she did say that London at night time was colder than Tow Law.

The Northern Echo: The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown placed on top, is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the ceremonial procession from Buckingham PalaceThe coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown placed on top, is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace (Image: PA)

Read more: Durham gran who has 12,000 bits of Royal memorabilia explains why she's in London

Speaking after finally entering Westminster Hall just after 1am, she said: “It was very moving. It was just unbelievable that the Queen is there in that coffin and that’s the last time we’re going to see her really.”

Ms Atkinson admitted to ‘feeling knackered’ after the long day but said she was glad to witness a piece of history.

“Anybody who hasn’t experienced that, what we just witnessed, with people filing through, was absolute total silence inside Westminster Hall,” she added.

The Northern Echo: Anita Atkinson at home in Weardale, County DurhamAnita Atkinson at home in Weardale, County Durham (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Speaking to The Northern Echo of the events earlier in the day, she said: “It was spectacle, a moment in history that I hope I will never forget.

“The procession was spectacular. I saw it right close up. I could not have been any closer.

Her trip from rural County Durham to the Capital was documented by BBC News, and featured in a prominent section of the 10 O’clock News on Wednesday.

“The last trip to see The Queen,” she emotionally explained. “It’s her final journey, it’s my final journey. No more Queen’s speech at Christmas.

“It’s really sad, I don’t really know how I’m going to live without her in my life.”

The Northern Echo: Members of the public file past the the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, as they pay their respects as the vigil begins in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on MondayMembers of the public file past the the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, as they pay their respects as the vigil begins in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday (Image: PA)

Read next:

The Queen left a secret letter that cannot be opened for another 63 years

Where you can watch the Queen's funeral in County Durham and Darlington as the UK mourns

Royal guard collapses at foot of Queen's coffin during lying in state

If you want to read more stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here