SINGAPORE - Crowds built up outside the Istana on Monday, waiting for Mr Lee Kuan Yew's body to arrive.

When the hearse pulled in to the Istana, the crowd broke into spontaneous applause and some shouted "Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew".

After the motorcade made its entrance, crowds lining the road started to disperse, but the line for tributes to Mr Lee continued to grow.

Ms P Pusparani, 57, a long-time resident of Tanjong Pagar where Mr Lee was MP since 1955, said: "When I saw the coffin, no words could express my grief. It's so sad just to think that it'll be the last time he enters the Istana."

There will be a private wake on Monday and Tuesday at Sri Temasek.