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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Emotional Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard wear black in tribute to Queen in GMB special

Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard paid an emotional tribute to the Queen after it was announced on Thursday she had passed away, aged 96.

Presenters on the show wore black as the country entered 10 days of national mourning, with ITV pulling their original schedule for Friday to make it GMB an extended special in honour of Her Majesty.

While Susanna and Ben hosted from the studios, Kate Garraway stood outside Buckingham Palace with mourners still gathering to lay flowers at the gates to pay their respects to the longest reigning monarch.

Paying tribute, Ben said: "It's a remarkable life she lived."

Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard paid an emotional tribute to the Queen (ITV)

Susanna added: "She had sparkling eyes, even at the beginning of the week. We knew this moment was coming and yet it is a shock.

" She had the longest reign of any monarch. She was the constant presence in all of our lives.

"She was dignified, dutiful, devoted to her family and to the Commonwealth. She gave a life of service.

"I reflected yesterday, we knew she couldn't be immortal and yet we hoped she would be. It is quite a moment."

Presenters on the show wore black as the country entered 10 days of national mourning (ITV)

Meanwhile, from outside the studio, Kate echoed Susanna's thoughts on how the nation are shocked we "won't see her again. "

She said: "The atmosphere here has been one of we all knew this would happen but didn't want it to. Flowers are being laid.

"I'm lucky enough I pass these gates every day on the way to work. There's always tourists here and there is always a secret feeling: 'I wonder if we will see the Queen'.

Kate Garraway paid tribute outside Buckingham Palace (ITV)

"People are already responding saying I can't believe we won't see her again."

Weather presenter Laura Tobin shared moving photos on the show of a rainbow breaking out over the royal residence.

The nation came to a halt to mourn its former monarch, with the Mercury Prize for leading musicians postponed and play at the PGA Championship golf event at Wentworth suspended, amid wall-to-wall coverage on TV channels.

Buckingham Palace made the official announcement at 6.30pm on Thursday with a brief statement saying: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

Good Morning Britain will be followed by an extended ITV News special to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 70 years of reign.

This Morning, Loose Women and soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street have been pulled from the schedule as the nation enters an official period of mourning.

At 8.30pm, there will be a special tribute to Her Majesty called Queen Elizabeth II - The Longest Reign.

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