He did not accept any privileges.
This Friday, September 16, David Beckham waited more than 13 hours in the endless queue that led to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II – who died on September 8 –, exhibited in Westminster.
Dressed in a costume hiding his tattoos, a long coat and a beret, the former football star wished to pay tribute to his sovereign, who died on September 8 at the age of 96, mourning surrounded by his compatriots.
According to information from the Daily Mail, the husband of Victoria Beckham arrived on site at 2 a.m. but could not enter the hall until around 3:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. in Paris).
In video, "She took care of us": David Beckham came to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
According to the sources of the British newspaper, the former number 7 of Manchester, would also have declined the offer of a deputy to skip the queue, and thus pass in front of the thousands of people gathered.
To justify himself, David Beckham invoked his grandfather Joseph West - a staunch royalist, his "hero", who would surely have been disappointed.
Unmasked
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder was finally unmasked at the beginning of the afternoon, due to the number of publications shared on social networks.
“If my grandparents were still here today, I know they would have wanted to be here.
So I am here for them, on behalf of my family, and to commemorate the queen with everyone,” he explained to the microphone of the British channel iTV News, who came to interview him.
And to add: “I thought, coming at 2 o'clock, that it was going to be a little quieter… But I was wrong, everyone had the same idea.
People of all ages wanted to be part of this experience and commemorate the Queen.”
"It's tough for the nation, it's tough for everyone on Earth, because I think everyone feels that, and our hearts go out to the family and obviously everyone here today," he concluded.
Once arrived in front of the coffin of his monarch, the ex-footballer seemed very moved.
The former England captain had met the Queen on several occasions.
Other celebrities are expected for the sovereign's funeral, which will take place on Monday, September 19.
Among them, certainly David Beckham, but also heads of state from around the world including Joe Biden, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Emmanuel Macron.
