Former England captain David Beckham has joined the lengthy lines forming in London to pass the late Queen Elizabeth II’s casket.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player told Sky News that he has joined the throngs of people making their way to Westminster Hall to honor Britain’s “unique” queen.
People have been waiting in line for hours, many of them through the night, to pay their respects to the late monarch, who passed away last week. Elizabeth’s passing has caused an outpouring of sorrow across the country.
According to the government, the line was temporarily stopped on Friday due to a park’s capacity at the end of the route along the River Thames.
Beckham, 47, was seen wearing a dark flat cap, suit and tie as he waited in line to pay his respects.
“This day was always going to be a difficult day,” he told Sky News. “Our thoughts are with the family it’s very special to hear all of the stories from people here.
“The most special moment for me was to receive my OBE (Order of the British Empire honor from the queen, which he received in 2003). I took my grandparents with me who were huge royalists.
“I was so lucky that I was able to have a few moments like that in my life to be around Her Majesty. It’s a sad day, but a day to remember.”
Beckham said he had turned up to queue in the early hours, hoping to dodge the main rush but had been thwarted in his plan.
“I thought by coming at 2:00 am it was going to be a little bit quieter — I was wrong,” he told ITV News.
The former footballer said every time the national anthem had been played at England matches was special.
“Every time that we stood there when we wore those Three Lion shirts and I had my armband and we sang God Save Our Queen, that was something that meant so much to us,” he told ITV.
Numerous athletes from Britain and throughout the world paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth after her passing last week at the age of 96, including Beckham.
More than 2,000 people are anticipated at the Westminster Abbey on Monday morning as the queen is honored with Britain’s first state burial in in 60 years.
