David Beckham has joined mourners queuing in London to see the Queen lying in state, following her death at 96.
Ahead of Her Majesty’s funeral, which is taking place on Monday, thousands have been waiting patiently across the Capital to pay their final respects.
Pictures on social media showed the former Manchester United footballer among those wanting to say a final goodbye to the monarch.
He could be seen in a dark blazer and tie, with a white shirt and a navy coat for the occasion.
The 47-year-old joined the procession at 2am and kept a low profile in a dark flat cap, but his appearance is thought to have caused a stir as many attempted to take his picture.
Speaking to ITV while queuing, he recalled: ‘A special moment I’ll always remember is receiving my OBE. I took my grandparents with me, who were the ones who brought me up to be a huge Royalist and a fan of the royal family.
‘To step up, I have my wife there as well, to get my honour and to speak to Her Majesty. To ask a question. I was so lucky to have a few moments like that in my life.
‘To be around Her Majesty. We can all see the love that is being shown how special she was and the legacy that she leaves behind.
‘It’s a sad day but it’s a day for us to remember the incredible legacy that she’s left.’
‘I thought by coming at 2am it was going to be a little bit quieter. I was wrong. Everybody had that in mind,’ he added.
‘The people here are all ages. There was an 84-year-old lady walking around. There was a 90-year-old gentleman walking around. Everybody wants to be here to be a part of this experience and celebrate what Her Majesty has done for us.’
Queen Elizabeth II dead: Latest updates
- Live tracker shows how long the queue is to see Queen lying in state
- What happens next following the death of the Queen?
- What time is the Queen’s funeral and where is it taking place?
- Nationwide minute’s silence for The Queen at 8pm on Sunday
Head to Metro.co.uk’s Queen Elizabeth II tag page for the latest updates, and sign Metro.co.uk’s book of condolence to Her Majesty here.
Beckham shared a loving tribute to the late Royal last week, after news of her death emerged.
‘I’m truly saddened by the death of Her Majesty, The Queen,’ he shared on Instagram. ‘What an outpouring of love and respect we saw for the Platinum Jubilee for her life of service.
‘How devastated we all feel today shows what she has meant to people in this country and around the world.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CiQoyB1o4kh/
‘How much she inspired us with her leadership. How she comforted us when times were tough.
‘Until her last days she served her country with dignity and grace. This year she would have known how loved she was. My thoughts and prayers are with our Royal Family.’
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid also took time out to join the queue, with her mum, Sue, on Thursday.
Detailing her experience on Twitter, she said: ‘Evening – along with my lovely mum and her very good friend, I have just experienced a moment in history – witnessing the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall.
‘At once majestic and peaceful.’
A tweet from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport urged those wanting to pay their respects to wait until it had gone down.
‘Southwark Park has reached capacity,’ the post, shared four hours ago, read. ‘Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience.
‘Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.’
A live tracker from the government showing people how far the queue has stretched now says that it is at capacity and entry is ‘paused’.
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