Dame Kelly Holmes appeared on TV in a bright orange suit after the Queen's death.
Across TV, newsreaders and presenters have all been dressed head to toe in black as a sign of respect for the late monarch. Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday aged 96, and broadcasters have cancelled all regular programming to make way for tributes to her life and legacy.
Dame Kelly raised eyebrows among viewers as she sat in the studio alongside ITV royal editor Chris Ship and anchor Tom Bradby. Her outfit was bold in comparison to their dark suits.
READ MORE: Queen died before William, Andrew, Edward and Sophie Wessex arrived at Balmoral
Viewers on Twitter were outraged with her choice of clothing. Some said the 52-year-old retired athlete was "attention seeking" while others accused her of "disrespect."
However, the Dame explained the special meaning behind her clothing choice as she recollected her memories of meeting The Queen. She said: “Her aura, every time I’ve met her - you’re just astounded by her presence. People might say to me, ‘why did you wear bright on television?’ Every time I met her, she had a solid block of colour on and so today, this is for Her Majesty.”
The Queen held a special place in the athlete's heart. She said: "When it comes to sport, let's remember she’s the only person to have sworn in two Olympic Games – the 1976 Montreal Games and 2012 Olympic Games. As a sportsperson, everything you do is in that vein.
"If you have the British flag flying and the national anthem playing, I've never been so proud to stand there and sing, at the time, God Save the Queen. I find it very hard to change my mindset now going forward, because it’s all we’ve ever known. I was a multiple Commonwealth champion – everything I've done has been a connection.”
She continued: “From a personal point of view, it means so much to be able to talk about her and to know what impact she has had on my life – but then that’s a multitude of people that have that same connection.”
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