David Beckham took some time out of his presumably busy schedule to pay his respects to the late Queen of England on Friday, Sept. 16. The famed soccer player reportedly waited in line for over 13 hours, alongside the rest of Queen Elizabeth II’s mourners, to pay his respects.
Reuters reports that Beckham joined the line at 2:15 a.m. He told reporters on scene later that day, “We all want to be here together, we all want to experience something where we celebrate the amazing life of our queen. Something like this today is meant to be shared together.” He also mentioned snacking with others in line to keep their energy up as they waited their turn.
The publication reports that live broadcasting from inside Westminster Hall showed Beckham reach the Queen’s coffin around 3:25 p.m., where he closed his eyes and bowed his head in a moment of silence.
Photographers captured Beckham as he left the building, dressed in black with a dark cap on his head and an umbrella in his hands.
English former football player David Beckham (rear C) leaves Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, in London on September 16, 2022 after paying his respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it Lies in State. – Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state in Westminster Hall inside the Palace of Westminster, until 0530 GMT on September 19, a few hours before her funeral, with huge queues expected to file past her coffin to pay their respects. (Photo by Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/Getty Images
English former football player David Beckham leaves Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, in London on September 16, 2022 after paying his respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it Lies in State. – Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state in Westminster Hall inside the Palace of Westminster, until 0530 GMT on September 19, a few hours before her funeral, with huge queues expected to file past her coffin to pay their respects. (Photo by Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/Getty Images
English former football player David Beckham leaves Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster, in London on September 16, 2022 after paying his respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it Lies in State. – Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state in Westminster Hall inside the Palace of Westminster, until 0530 GMT on September 19, a few hours before her funeral, with huge queues expected to file past her coffin to pay their respects. (Photo by Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/Getty Images
Beckham posted on Instagram in the wake of the monarch’s death to express his sadness, writing, “I’m truly saddened by the death of Her Majesty, The Queen. What an outpouring of love and respect we saw for the Platinum Jubilee for her life of service. How devastated we all feel today shows what she has meant to people in this country and around the world. How much she inspired us with her leadership. How she comforted us when times were tough. Until her last days she served her country with dignity and grace. This year she would have known how loved she was. My thoughts and prayers are with our Royal Family…”
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He also told reporters how lucky he was to have had a few moments in his life to “be around Her Majesty,” and was honored to be there to celebrate her life.
Twitter users admired the celebrity for waiting his turn, especially when other notable figures jumped the line to avoid the others who were queued up.
Journalist Tony Parsons wrote, “David Beckham joined the queue to see the Queen’s coffin at 0145 am Friday morning. If he looks like a man who has been up all night – he has. Full credit to this man who could have played the VIP card. He is a credit to our nation, and his Queen.”
“Without being all ‘Wah, it’s actually hard to be a celebrity’, for David Beckham to come alone, and queue for ten hours, when everyone would recognise him, is pretty ballsy. GOLDENBALLSY,” wrote another.
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