Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard paid an emotional tribute to the Queen on Good Morning Britain after it was announced on Thursday, September 8 she had passed away, aged 96.
The GMB presenters wore black on Friday's show as the country entered 10 days of national mourning. The original schedule for the ITV programme was pulled and in its place a special aired in honour to Her Majesty.
The poignant show saw GMB replace its usual ticker with a simple black band and no music played between segments as a mark of respect. While Susanna and Ben hosted from the studios, Kate Garraway joined mourners laying flowers outside Buckingham Palace, reports The Mirror.
Read more: The Crown pauses filming after death of Queen Elizabeth
Paying emotional tribute to the Queen, Susanna said: "She had sparkling eyes, even at the beginning of the week. We knew this moment was coming and yet it is a shock. She had the longest reign of any monarch. The most constant presence in all of our lives. She was the steady presence as Queen, while everything else changed over the decades. She was dignified, dutiful, devoted to our country and to the Commonwealth, to her family and to a life of service, which has been both reassuring, comforting but also inspiring. I reflected yesterday, we knew that she couldn't be immortal, and yet I think we all hoped she might be. It is quite a moment."
Susanna later added: "She was able to be, at the same time, utterly regal and totally down to earth. That’s the person that we’re hearing about, that’s the person we’ve lost."
Kate echoed Susanna's thoughts, telling the studio: "The atmosphere here has been one of we all knew this would happen but didn't want it to. Flowers are being laid. I'm lucky enough I pass these gates every day on the way to work. There's always tourists here and there is always a secret feeling: 'I wonder if we will see the Queen'. People are already responding saying I can't believe we won't see her again."
Buckingham Palace made the official announcement at 6.30pm on Thursday with a brief statement saying: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
Good Morning Britain will be followed by an extended ITV News special to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 70 years of reign.
This Morning, Loose Women and soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street have been pulled from the schedule as the nation enters an official period of mourning.
At 8.30pm, there will be a special tribute to Her Majesty called Queen Elizabeth II - The Longest Reign.
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