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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Scarlett O'Toole

Bear Grylls attends Queen Elizabeth II's funeral as mourners pack Westminster Hall

Adventurer Bear Grylls was among the first guests to arrive at Queen Elizabeth II 's funeral today as the late monarch was laid to rest.

The 48-year-old Chief Scout wore a black suit and striped trousers as he was seen making his way into Westminster Abbey.

Her Majesty received an outpouring of support from around the world following her death at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, at the age of 96. King Charles said he has been "deeply touched" by the public's support since the death of his mother.

About 2,000 mourners, including royalty and heads of state from around the globe, were at Westminster Abbey for the funeral service, with millions more watching at home.

Bear met the Queen on numerous occasions, including when she awarded him his OBE in 2019.

Bear was seen arriving at Westminster Abbey (Tim Merry)
The Queen's state funeral took place today (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Following her death, he paid tribute to the monarch, saying: "I was lucky to meet the Queen on a bunch of different occasions – from the amazing evenings she hosted for Explorers at Buckingham Palace to sitting next to her at dinner one time and she did my OBE.

"The times I met her, the times she lit up the most, was whenever we did something Scouting. I think it was one of the organisations she was most proud to represent."

Also paying her respects was Peep Show actress Sophie Winkleman. She played Big Suze, the love interest of Robert Webb’s character Jeremy, in the popular sitcom.

Sophie attended as part of the Royal family (Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

The 42-year-old is married to Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael of Kent, and appeared alongside him at Westminster Abbey as a member of the Royal family.

Sophie married Lord Frederick Windsor at Hampton Court Palace in September 2009 and became entitled to be styled as Lady Frederick Windsor but continues to use her own name in her acting career.

Speaking ahead of the funeral on the BBC, Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes said she feels "overwhelmed" by the Queen's passing.

Kelly appeared during BBC coverage of the funeral today (BBC)

"It's one of these days where it just feels so final. I feel quite overwhelmed with that thought to be honest. It's such a big day, I feel so overwhelmed with it," she said.

English composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber added: "It is really a day where we all reflect on one of the most remarkable people anyone has ever seen.

"The outpouring of support we have seen over the last week is deeply, deeply touching. I feel very, very lucky to have met the most remarkable woman."

The Queen's funeral was attended by nearly 200 key workers and volunteers recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

The funeral was invite only, with large crowds forming outside the Abbey hours before the service as the general public came to say their final goodbyes to Her Majesty.

This morning, the final Brits paid their respects to The Queen as the lying-in-state period came to a close. The final few people observing the Queen lying-in-state trickled through Westminster Hall at about 6.30am.

Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest alongside her late husband during a private service and burial this evening.

Both will be laid to rest in the King George VI memorial chapel, where the Queen's parents George VI and the Queen Mother, as well as her sister Princess Margaret, are all interred.

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