Since last Wednesday, September 14, at five in the afternoon, the funeral chapel was opened to the public to bid farewell to Elizabeth II in the emblematic Westminster Hall, a lobby and central room attached to the Houses of Parliament, thousands of people from all the points of the United Kingdom have waited their turn to give a last goodbye to the queen.
Despite the kilometres, the inclement weather and the initial warning from the London police that predicted a wait of 35 hours - in the end,
it is only
14 -, the British have armed themselves with umbrellas, blankets, water, food and patience to walk the banks of the Thames and pay their last respects.
And among all the anonymous people gathered for the same purpose, some celebrity has also been seen.
As reported this afternoon by
Royal Central
, an independent medium specializing in news about the British royal family, David Beckham, 47, has joined the long queue to say goodbye to Elizabeth II for the last time.
As reported by the former soccer player to ITV News, he joined the queue at two in the morning and, 12 hours later, near Westminster Hall, he has been recognized by the press and the media.
People who were close to David Beckham, and who have recognized him during the walk, have written about him on social networks: “A friend of my mother says that she joined at dawn and bought donuts for everyone.
This guy is a legend”, wrote a user.
David Beckham OBE has joined the queue to see Queen Elizabeth II Lying-in-State.
Like everybody else, he will have to wait in line for at least 14 hours and will not enter Westminster Hall until tomorrow morning.
pic.twitter.com/eKlcOs6T5m
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) September 16, 2022
"Probably the most special moment of my life was when I received my Order of the British Empire," the former soccer player told the
ITV cameras,
where he has declared to be profoundly monarchical and has highlighted the important legacy left by Elizabeth II.
David Beckham was awarded the Order of the British Empire by the monarch in 2003 at a ceremony held at Buckingham Palace, accompanied by his wife Victoria and her grandparents.
At that time, he was the captain of the England team and was proposed as a candidate for this honor by the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
On September 8, the day of the queen's death, Beckham wrote a heartfelt message on his social networks: “I am really saddened by the death of Her Majesty.
How devastated we all feel today shows what she has meant to people in this country and around the world.
How much she inspired us with her leadership,
how he comforted us when times were hard.
Until his last days he served his country with dignity and grace.
This year she would have known how loved she was.”
When he has finally arrived in front of the coffin, the BBC cameras have captured the tears of the former soccer player and today a businessman.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham)
On Wednesday, September 14, Sharon Osbourne, reality star and manager and wife of Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, also queued up to say goodbye to the queen: “I love the queen and this is why I came, because I love the royal family, ”he declared before the television cameras.
On Thursday, September 15, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the conservative Theresa May, was one of the thousands of people who queued throughout the early morning to pay her respects to Elizabeth II and she was also deeply moved.
The familiar faces have been some of the surprises of the long waits that, despite the fatigue and mourning for the death of the monarch, have maintained a positive and collaborative spirit during the days in which it has remained open, for 24 hours, the burning chapel
This will remain open until next Monday, September 19, when the mortal remains of Elizabeth II will be transferred first thing in the morning to Westminster Abbey, where her state funeral will be held.
The last respects to the queen have been organized in the most British way possible, with constant information from the British Government about waiting times or itinerary (from Lambeth Bridge to Southwark Park).
To do this, they have enabled a YouTube channel that shows the route and where the end of the waiting line is, in real time.
For those who have not been able to approach in person, an
online
book has been created where people can express their condolences.
