Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have been accused of 'jumping the queue' to see the Queen's coffin lying in state, after they were spotted on camera at Westminster Hall, but a spokesperson has claimed that they didn't get to pay their respects 'in the same way' as others.
Since doors to the Hall opened up to the public at teatime on Wednesday, floods of people have poured through the doors of the historic building, to pay their respects to Her Majesty, before her funeral. The Queen's body was taken to Westminster on Buckingham Palace in a moving procession, which saw the likes of King Charles III and Princes William and Harry walk behind the coffin as crowds lined the streets to look on.
Some members of the public had been in line for days to be at the front of the queue to see the Queen and on Friday morning the queue was closed for at least six hours, as it stretched for miles across London.
READ MORE: David Beckham queues for over 12 hours to pay respects to Queen
David Beckham was spotted in line amongst other people who waited patiently for the chance to pay their respects, however, Phillip and Holly, who signed off on This Morning until Tuesday, were seen in a separate queue in shots picked up on the BBC live stream of the lying in state. Both presenters appeared on the rolling feed as they lined up in the entrance to the Hall, with Holly wearing a face covering.
And on, seeing them viewers and Twitter users who quickly became aware of the images, accused the pair of 'pushing in.' But in a statement given to Mail Online a source said they weren't going to get the same access as those who'd braved dipping temperatures and queued for hours on end.
The spokesperson said: "They did not get to pay their respects to the Queen in the same way as queuing members of the public but they filmed in a section put aside for press."
Phillip and Holly being in the separate press queue at Westminster Hall came after their ITV colleague, Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid, stood for over seven hours on Thursday for her chance to file past the Queen's coffin, telling her Twitter followers: "I have just experienced a moment in history - witnessing the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall. At once majestic and peaceful."
Holly and Phillip announced at the end of Thursday's This Morning that they'd be off air until Tuesday, with Phillip looking down the lens to remark: "There's only one thing left to say...thank you Ma'am," before Time To Say Goodbye played over images of the Queen throughout her long and illustrious reign.
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