Tuesday 20 September 2022 01:38 PM Dame Kelly Holmes reflects on queuing for more than seven hours to see the ... trends now

Tuesday 20 September 2022 01:38 PM Dame Kelly Holmes reflects on queuing for more than seven hours to see the ... trends now
Tuesday 20 September 2022 01:38 PM Dame Kelly Holmes reflects on queuing for more than seven hours to see the ... trends now

Tuesday 20 September 2022 01:38 PM Dame Kelly Holmes reflects on queuing for more than seven hours to see the ... trends now

Dame Kelly Holmes became emotional as she reflected on queuing for more than 11 hours to see the Queen lying in state at London's Westminster Hall.

The athlete, 52, reflected on her experience viewing the late monarch's coffin on Sunday as she appeared as a Loose Women panelist on Tuesday.

She said she felt 'compelled' to join the five-mile long queue after attending the National Diversity Awards, rushing back to London from Liverpool to do so.

Tearful: Dame Kelly Holmes became emotional as she reflected on queuing for more than 11 hours to see the Queen lying in state at London's Westminster Hall

Tearful: Dame Kelly Holmes became emotional as she reflected on queuing for more than 11 hours to see the Queen lying in state at London's Westminster Hall

Kelly became very tearful as she spoke about the 'enormity' of the moment, admitting it felt very final to see the Queen's coffin ahead of Monday's funeral.

She said: 'It got very serious going through security, I don't think I've processed the going through. The enormity of the hall and the coffin looked so small... It's so final. I mainly got choked up when they went on the long walk up to Windsor.'

Kelly said she has a close connection with the monarch having served in the Women's Royal Armoured Corp at 17 years old, while the Queen was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and Head of the Armed Forces.

Speaking about her decision to join the queue, Kelly explained:  'I was in Liverpool at National Diversity Awards, and I won. I got back after an afterparty, and I got back at 2.30am and I felt so compelled to have to join that queue. 

Queue: The athlete, 52, reflected on her experience viewing the late monarch's coffin on Sunday as she appeared as a Loose Women panelist on Tuesday

Queue: The athlete, 52, reflected on her experience viewing the late monarch's coffin on Sunday as she appeared as a Loose Women panelist on Tuesday 

'I changed my arrangements, got on a train at 7am, got some warm clothes on at Charing Cross and joined the queue. It was a moment of joy and unity and togetherness.'

Kelly also spoke about the feeling of unity in the queue, saying she befriended a 90-year-old man John Collinson, who queued with her for seven hours.

She said he had insisted on queuing with members of the public for seven hours, before he finally accepted first aiders offer to fast track him due to his health.

'The first aiders said you can fast track to the queue, and I said to him 'you can go, you've done your service', and I said I'd give him a shoutout today because he's watching Loose Women. So hi John!', she said.

Sadness: Kelly became very tearful as she spoke about the 'enormity' of the moment, admitting it felt very final to see the Queen's coffin ahead of Monday's funeral

Sadness: Kelly became very tearful as she spoke about the 'enormity' of the moment, admitting it felt very final to see the Queen's coffin ahead of Monday's funeral

It comes after Kelly took to Instagram on Monday to share her experience of queuing to see the Queen's lying in state, and spoke about her new friend John.

She penned: 'As you know from my stories I spent the day yesterday until late last night queue to see Our Queen lay in State. It was

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT Abbie Chatfield shows off her toned figure in a skimpy pink houndstooth bikini ... trends now