Kate Garraway recalled filming Good Morning Britain at Buckingham Palace in years gone by, as the programme marked the death of Queen Elizabeth II aged 96.
The ITV programme dedicated the entire broadcast to the late monarch to pay tribute, with Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid in the studio and Kate in front of the palace in central London.
Ben and Kate reminisced about being told to keep the volume down during Good Morning Britain filming so they didn’t wake the Queen when she was in residence.
Discussing her legacy during the special episode on Friday morning, Ben said: “She is the monarch that more people have met.
“We’ve been lucky, haven’t we, to broadcast live from Buckingham Palace. It all felt so exciting, because we knew the Queen was somewhere in her private apartments, fast asleep. We couldn’t be too loud.”
As Ben joked that being quiet might have been difficult for his co-star, Kate laughed: “We were told not to wake her up! I was cackling too much.”
Presenters on the show wore black as the country entered 10 days of national mourning, with ITV pulling their original schedule for Friday to cover an extended news special in honour of Her Majesty.
Paying tribute, Ben said: “It's a remarkable life she lived,” as Susanna added: “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. She was the constant presence in all of our lives.
“She was dignified, dutiful, devoted to her family and to the Commonwealth. She gave a life of service.
“I reflected yesterday, we knew she couldn't be immortal and yet we hoped she would be. It is quite a moment.”
Meanwhile, from outside the studio, Kate echoed Susanna's thoughts on the nation's shock, saying: “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.”
The Queen will be commemorated with pomp and ceremony as the nation begins a period of mourning to mark the death of its former monarch.
Gun salutes will ring out in the capital and bells will toll across the country, with churches, chapels and cathedrals encouraged by the Church of England to open for prayers or a special service for mourners.
