Claims that a disabled woman in the queue to view the Queen lying in state was moved aside to make way for UK TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been denied.
ITV has responded to the accusation made against the posts, in a recently deleted tweet.
“This is a photo taken by my sister’s husband yesterday after he had queued with my sister, their 10-year-old daughter and my disabled mum for 13-plus hours,” it read.
“My mum was ushered out of @hollywills and @schofe way so they could #queuejumpers without even a thanks #schofieldgate #queuejumping.”
Responding to the accusations, an ITV representative said, “This Morning asked Phillip and Holly to attend Westminster Hall to make a report on the Queen lying in state as part of a wider piece around the death of the monarch.”
“They followed all restrictions and guidelines and attended the media area, entering via the media centre door, in a professional capacity alongside many other broadcasters and media. They neither jumped the queue nor took anyone’s place in the queue.”
Since the claims emerged that the pair “queue jumped” during Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state period, thousands have signed a petition calling for the duo to be fired, as members of the public including celebrities like David Beckham, waited hours in the line to enter Westminster Hall.
Willoughby and Schofield have since addressed the controversy on air, saying they would “never jump a queue.”
“Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall,” Willoughby said.
“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. Please know that we would never jump a queue.”
Following claims the pair were not on the media accreditation list to see Her Majesty, an ITV representative explained they were accredited via their production team and “Holly and Phillip continue to have our full support.”
About a quarter of a million people viewed Queen Elizabeth’s coffin ahead of her state funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19th.
Image: Instagram
This article first appeared on OverSixty.