A Welsh woman turned up two days early to make sure she was at the front of the queue to view the Queen lying in state.
There are few Royal occasions that Anne Daley misses if she can help it and she travels the country to keep watch on as many births, deaths and engagements as she can manage. Always in a Welsh rugby shirt or with a Welsh flag proudly displayed alongside her, there's no doubting where Anne comes from.
The 65-year-old from Llandaf in the Welsh capital is one half of a pair of dedicated royal fans and is usually with her sister Judy Daley. On Monday, she was pictured as the second person to join the queue near Lambeth Bridge to view the Queen lying in state. The only person who'd got there before her was Vanessa Nanthakumaran from Harrow.
Read more: Simple message for Queen has people in tears
The 65-year-old arrived at about 2.15pm with a chair and a Welsh flag, saying she had got up at 3am and travelled with a group from Cardiff but only found out where to go after seeing Vanessa on the news. She said: "So here we are and representing Wales." On hearing the news of the Queen's death, she said: "I couldn't stop crying for days."
It's not the first time the media have sought her opinion on Royal events. When news broke that Royals Harry and Meghan would soon welcome their son, Archie, into the world, Anne jumped into her car on the off chance she might see something about the imminent royal arrival. Leave your tribute to the Queen here
During a report after news broke that Meghan was in labour, she was stopped in the street and asked about the balloons she had with her at the time. She struggled with the word ethnicity but told the reporter: "They do sell Afro-American babies now, of ethnic minorities. We have been waiting all day, and we have just heard now that she is in labour."
Then when she was asked how long Meghan would be in labour for, she replied: "I've no idea, I've never been in labour. I've only voted Labour."
The two Daley sisters are at most major Royal events and are often joined by their King Charles spaniel Camilla. When Harry and Meghan visited Cardiff, Anne and Judy were at Cardiff Castle to invite the bride-to-be out for a hen do in Cardiff. On that occasion, they'd brought L-plates, a tiara and balloons, and their King Charles spaniel dog Camilla modelled a veil - and said they would love to take Meghan for a night out at Tiger Tiger. Meghan had agreed to come along, but we don't think it ever happened.
The sisters tend to queue for hours to catch a glimpse of members of the Royal family, and normally go dressed for the event. They also travelled through the night to see the Queen on walkabout in Windsor to celebrate her 90th birthday.
After Anne's interview following the royal baby's birth hit the headlines, she even got invited on the This Morning baby shower party bus with presenter Alison Hammond as it toured around Windsor on Tuesday morning. She was on board the bus, wrapped in a Welsh flag and surrounded by other royal fans who had flocked to the royal town to catch a glimpse of the new baby.
Speaking on Monday on the more sombre occasion of the Queen's death, Anne said waiting for days is "nothing to me" adding that she had come prepared with Welsh cakes and a sandwich as well as ordering from Deliveroo.
"We have plenty of lovely company," she said. "People are so kind in London."
Read next:
- How the Prince of Wales' investiture could look amid reports it will be a scaled-back event in Cardiff
- Prince William issues statement on 'deep affection for Wales' after meeting Mark Drakeford
- Queen's funeral Bank Holiday working rules - and whether you'll be given the day off
Prince William praised for the very strange way he just held his pen
The title 'Prince of Wales' should disappear, says senior Welsh politician
