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Simon Duke

Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard delivers heartfelt opening to show ahead of Queen's funeral

Ben Shephard many viewers at home immensely moved by her heartfelt tribute to the Queen and her ability to "speak to the nation in good times and badf" as Good Morning Britain aired on the day the nation said goodbye to Her Majesty.

The sun hadn't even come up in the sky when Ben and GMB colleague Susanna Reid appeared on screen just after 6am, from a prime vantage point outside of Westminster Abbey to present ITV's first live broadcast of a long and historic day. As cameras started rolling, Susanna began: "Good Morning Britain from Westminster Abbey on the 19th September, 2022; a momentous day, the day our Queen, Elizabeth II, is laid to rest. A day marked by mourning, but also a day of remembrance for a much loved monarch, who remained steadfast in her duty to the nation."

Taking over Ben said: "In less than 30 minutes, the last people to see the Queen lying in state will emerge from Westminster Hall, like hundreds of thousands of others, they have waited as long as it takes to patiently pay their respects."

READ MORE: The Queen's funeral order of service for Westminster Abbey

Susanna continued: "Royalty from around the world will join presidents, prime ministers and specially invited members of the public at the state funeral in just a few hours time. It will be both a public farewell and a private time of sorrow for her family who have lost a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.'

Susanna also referenced the Queen giving us "a glimpse of the pain," she experienced after the death of her beloved husband, Prince Phillip, as Ben membered Her Majesty's "ability to connect people and her ability to speak to the nation in good times and bad."

Heaping praise on Ben, Susanna and their GMB colleagues for Monday6's show, one viewer wrote: "Great GMB this morning with Ben, Susanna from Westminster Abbey, Charlotte, Ranvir at Windsor & Kate at Buckingham Palace. A credit to you all on great coverage leading up to HM The Queen's State Funeral."

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