Omid Scobie skipped queue to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin

Omid Scobie

Omid Scobie skipped queue to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin

Getty
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 29/11/2023

- 20:06

The late monarch died on September 8, 2022

Omid Scobie skipped the queue to view Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, his new book Endgame reveals.

When Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, the public subsequently lined up for hours to pay their condolences before her casket was placed in Westminster Hall.


The then-hosts of This Morning, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, were among the journalists who were famously accused of skipping the queue as they entered the hall, which ignited controversy.

Although the two have since left the show, they originally explained their actions on TV: "Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall.

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"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.

"None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past 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.

Queen Elizabeth funeral

Queen Elizabeth's funeral took place in September 2022

PA

"Please know that we would never jump a queue."

Scobie recalled a similar experience during his new royal book, Endgame.

He wrote: "The full reality of Queen Elizabeth II's death hit me 10 days later when I joined a small group of journalists to observe the scene of the former monarch lying in state at Westminster Hall.

"Members of the public had queued for up to ten miles and over twenty-four hours to pay their respects.

Omid ScobieOmid Scobie has previously written a book about Prince Harry and Meghan MarkleITV
Phillip and Holly

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were famously accused of skipping the queue to see the Queen's coffin

PA

"For those of us in the press working eighteen-hour shifts, reporting to millions of others around the world, British Parliament's 'Operation Marquee' team had arranged pre-booked one-hour time slots in Westminster so we could capture this moment in history."

Scobie's new book included several claims about the Royal Family.

For instance, he wrote about how Princess Kate reportedly "shudders and giggles" whenever she hears Meghan's name.

In addition, Scobie also claimed that the Princess Royal persuaded King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from their Frogmore Cottage home on the Windsor Estate.

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