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British TV hosts address Queen 'queue jumping' scandal live on-air

By April Glover|

A pair of British television hosts who were blasted online for allegedly "queue jumping" during Queen Elizabeth II's lying in state period have addressed the scandal on-air.

Royal fans and TV viewers alike were outraged when ITV's This Morning's Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield seemingly skipped the eight-kilometre queue snaking through London to pay their respects to the late British monarch.

While thousands of mourners waited up to 14 hours to view the Queen's coffin during the four-day lying in state, Willoughby and Schofield were seen arriving at Westminster Hall without lining up.

During This Morning's broadcast on Tuesday, the journalists addressed the backlash and claimed they were given media access to Westminster Hall in order to report on the event.

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Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were pictured walking into Westminster Hall without lining up. (Twitter)

Alongside a montage of people viewing the monarch's coffin inside the hall, Willoughby told viewers they "understood" the outrage but said their presence was strictly in a professional capacity.

"Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists we were given official permission to access the hall," Willoughby explained on-air.

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"It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who haven't been able to visit Westminster in person.

"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."

Willoughby assured viewers media didn't "take anyone's places" in the queue and insisted they did not skip the line.

"We of course respected those rules, however we realised that it may have looked like something else and therefore we totally understand the reaction," she continued.

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

Holly Willoughby Phillip Schofield
The TV hosts addressed the scandal after they were accused of queue jumping. (ITV)

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Schofield, who had largely remained silent during Willoughby's solemn monologue, went on to describe his visit to the hall as "one of the most profound moments of my life".

However, it seems British viewers were not placated by the public apology.

Some branded their explanation as a "pathetic excuse", while over 14,000 people have even signed an online petition to kick the pair off the show.

"Pathetic excuse. The 3 of them @hollywills @Schofe #MartinFrizell seen a loophole to jump the queue. Since when do any of them go to an outside filming piece. Lost the last bit of trust they had with the viewers @itv #ThisMorning @thismorning," one person tweeted.

"Not surprised that Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby got a press pass to allow them to jump the queue. Disgraceful. Bad decision by them," another wrote.

Several viewers, however, defended the on-air duo and said it wasn't a crime to exercise media privileges.

David Beckham eventually walked through Westminster Hall around 3.20pm, removing his cap? and revealing a black tie and suit underneath his coat
David Beckham was one of several celebrities who waited in the queue. (BBC)

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"Holly and Phillip didn't jump the queue... there's worse things in the world that are happening right now," one said.

Footage of Willoughby and Schofield filing past the long queue at Westminster Hall sparked even further outrage after it was revealed celebrities such as David Beckham and Tilda Swinton braved the hours-long wait to pay their respects.

Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid also waited in the queue instead of obtaining a media pass.

Soon after the journalists were spotted at the hall, ITV released a statement which claimed the pair "did not file past the Queen's coffin".

"They did not jump the queue, have VIP access or file past the Queen lying in state จC but instead were there in a professional capacity as part of the world's media to report on the event," the broadcaster said in an Instagram Story.

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