This Morning viewers have been flocking to social media to share their reaction to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield giving an explanation for being in Westminster Hall last week. The duo were last seen hosting the show last Thursday with Friday's show cancelled to make way for coverage of King Charles' visit to Wales.
Holly and Phillip had been hosting special episodes of This Morning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, paying tribute by sharing viewers' memories and chatting to those who knew or had met the late monarch.
But while hundreds of thousands of people queued for up to 14 hours to pay their final respects to Her Majesty following her death, aged 96, at Balmoral on September 8, Holly and Phillip were seen in Westminster Hall and quickly accused of 'jumping the queue'.
This Morning has hit back at the claims over the weekend. In a statement on the programme’s Instagram account, a message read: "Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something.
"We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for this Tuesday’s programme. They did not jump the queue, have VIP access or file past the Queen lying in state – but instead were there in a professional capacity as part of the world’s media to report on the event."
Following the Queen's state funeral on Monday, Holly and Phillip were back on screen reflecting on the historic and moving event that is believed to have been watched on TV by billions across the globe. Holly, wearing a black pinafore dress over a white shirt, said: "Hello, good morning and welcome to Tuesday's show. As a new chapter in history begins with the reign of King Charles III, we're taking a look back on the 11 days."
They then moved into a montage which featured clips of their coverage of the Queen's death, starting from the moment they went off air hours before Her Majesty's death was announced before Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary were seen visiting the floral display at Green Park, where tributes were moved to from Buckingham Palace.
It chronicled the days following the Queen's death, which was a period of national mourning, and later in the video, the pair were seen around Westminster Hall chatting to those who made the journey to pay their final respects to Her Majesty.
What do you think? Have your say in our comments below.
As footage of the Queen lying in state was aired, Holly could be heard saying in a voiceover: "Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall. It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who haven't been able to visit Westminster in person.
"The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause."
She continued: "None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed passed the Queen. We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction."
She then added: "Please know that we would never jump a queue." But This Morning viewers were still left unimpressed.
@ChristineCarr tweeted: "Addressing it via a pre recorded Holly “we haven’t done anything wrong so we’re not sorry” statement is really patronising. Turned #ThisMorning off." @Happysnipper1 echoed: "Turned off #ThisMorning after no apology."
@jackryanmiller wrote: "I’m struggling to move forward with the fact that these two haven’t acknowledged how wrong they are!! #thismorning." @agcrandon fumed: "Not an apology at all in my mind. Should have addressed it live! Shame on you @Schofe @hollywills #ThisMorning #queuejumping."
@bobblebardsley added: "I think the outrage over Phil & Holly being given a media pass into Westminster Hall is completely ridiculous but that non-apology was awkward as heck, I really can't see people who were angry about it now sat there thinking "oh, well that explains it". #ThisMorning."
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