Loose Women stars broke down in tears as they led tributes to the late Queen on a special show.
The ITV show returned for the first time following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch died on Thursday at the age of 96; a statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed the sad news to the world.
And as Loose Women made its return to the small screen today for the first time, there were a record number of panellists in attendance both in person - as well as joining in on the memorial episode from home. Ruth Langsford led the show today, joined in the studio by Brenda Edwards, Linda Robson, Jane Moore and new panellist Dame Kelly Holmes.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28000944.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_1231-Dame-Kelly-Holmes-in-tears-just-minutes-into-Loose-Women-debut.jpg)
Janet Street Porter, Gloria Hunniford and Kaye Adams also joined in on the discussions from home via video chat, whilst many other panellists including Katie Piper appeared with sweet messages and memories of the monarch.
As the show crossed over from This Morning today, hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, they played some sweet clips of the monarch throughout her reign to the song We'll Meet Again by Dame Vera Lynn as Dame Kelly Holmes cried over the sad loss of her Majesty.
"We will be sharing some very special stories about meeting her and honouring her legacy, starting with playing that, one of her favourite songs, which has already got Kelly in tears," Ruth said as she opened the show.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28000945.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_1231-Dame-Kelly-Holmes-in-tears-just-minutes-into-Loose-Women-debut.jpg)
She added: "I've got the tissues ready, have that," as she segued into what was coming up on the show including the panellists own personal memories of meeting the Queen and the now reigning monarch, King Charles III. In fact, panellist Brenda Edwards shared a poignant letter sent to her by the King after her son Jamal Edwards passed away earlier this year.
Brenda cried as she read out the letter, which included the words: "I have such fond memories of the times I met him and can ill afford in this country to lose someone exceptionally special as your dear son.
![](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article28000946.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_1231-Dame-Kelly-Holmes-in-tears-just-minutes-into-Loose-Women-debut.jpg)
"I feel this letter can only be hopelessly inadequate under such soul destroying circumstances and will probably be no comfort of whatsoever in making your sense of anguish any easier to bear."
Elsewhere, Janet Street Porter shared how she spent some time reflecting following the Queen's passing, surrounded by the tomatoes in her vegetable patch whilst one of her fellow panellists was out in Ibiza when she heard the news.