Holly Willoughby appeared filled with emotion as she joined Phillip Schofield to see the Queen lie in state. Queen Elizabeth II spent her first full day lying in state on Thursday (September 15) after the public were allowed to start paying their respects to the late monarch from 5pm on Wednesday.
As of Friday morning (September 16), it was reported that the queues to Westminster Hall reached 14 hours overnight. Sky News reported that at 8.15am today the queue had reached 4.9 miles (7.9km) long, with Southwark Park listed as the nearest landmark. It has since been confirmed by the Government that the public queue to attend the Queen’s lying in state will be paused for at least six hours after reaching capacity.
In the absence of This Morning being on air on Friday, it appears Holly and Phillip united to go and pay their respects to the late monarch who died 'peacefully' last Thursday, September 8, at Balmoral, aged 96. They made their way into the historic building to view the late monarch's coffin which is being seen by the public 24//7 until early Monday morning before her state funeral.
Phillip, 60, was seen being filmed on the BBC News live stream of Westminster Hall at around 10am. He opted to wear a smart black suit and tie for the visit, with the presenter sporting a somber look on his face as he followed behind his co-star.
Holly, 41, appeared in front of her friend and colleague and at one point was seen looking back with tears filling her eyes. The mum-of-three looked elegant in a black dress with silver button detailing along the front. She tied her long blonde locks back with a black scrunchie and wore a matching black mask. ITV News' Mary Nightingale could also be seen behind them.
Holly and Phillip returned to screens on Monday (September 12) with a shorter programme than usual, paying tribute to the late monarch who passed away peacefully, aged 96, at Balmoral. This continued on Tuesday while Wednesday they hosted an extended version of the show prior to the Queen's final possession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she now lies in state.
Thursday's show saw Holly, 41, and Phillip, 60, joined by pawnbroker Dan Hatfield to give his advice as people search for items and memorabilia to preserve from this time of history. Also taking a seat on the show's famous sofa were Katherine Jenkins, who has performed the national anthem countless times for the Queen, but earlier this week recorded the first version of ‘God Save The King’, and Sir Trevor McDonald who recalled his numerous encounters with the royal family over the years.
Holly and Phil later confirmed that Friday's show had been cancelled to make way for rolling news coverage. It comes as King Charles III will be making a trip to Cardiff, Wales tomorrow - his first since becoming King following the passing of his beloved mother.
They also made a tribute to the late Queen, with Phillip saying that all that was left for them to say was:" "Thank you for everything Ma'am" before show segued into an emotional montage of Queen Elizabeth's wonderful reign alongside the heartbreaking tune We'll Meet Again sung by their earlier guest, Katherine. And viewers were 'sobbing'.
Meanwhile, on Friday's Good Morning Britain, Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway returned to host and as they joined reporters out on location at Westminster Hall and throughout the lengthening queue, they spoke about their co-star's own visit to share a final moment with the Queen.
They told how Susanna and her mother Sue had joined fellow mourners yesterday evening as the late monarch's first full day lying in state came to an end. GMB host Susanna, 51, also took to Twitter to speak about her and her mother's experience as they paid their respects to the late monarch as she lay in state.
She described the 'historic' moment as 'majestic and peaceful' as she revealed she had joined mourners in the massive queues alongside her mother, Sue.
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