Ex-PM Theresa May curtsies to Queen's coffin at lying-in-state

2022-09-15

Theresa May and her husband Sir Philip join thousands of Britons in paying their respects to the Queen – but there’s anger as the ex-PM and other MPs and peers are able to jump the three-mile queue for Her Majesty’s lying-in-state

Ex-PM Theresa May and husband Sir Philip May are spotted in Westminster Hall
They join thousands of others in paying tribute to Queen at her lying-in-state
The Mays did not seem to have queued for many hours like most in attendance
MPs and peers are able to gain immediate entry and skip the three-mile line
The special treatment has been condemned by some of those in the queue
The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

Theresa May has joined thousands of Britons paying their respects to the Queen at Her Majesty’s lying-in-state in Westminster Hall.

The former prime minister, together with her husband Sir Philip May, was spotted joining the queue filing past the Queen’s coffin.

But, unlike the majority of those in attendance, the Mays did not seem to have queued for many hours for their chance to pay tribute to the late monarch.

As an MP, Mrs May is entitled to jump to the front of the queue – which stretches for almost three miles from Westminster to London Bridge – and gain immediate entry to Westminster Hall.

They are also entitled to four timed entry tickets, letting friends or family also avoid the long wait.

The special treatment for MPs, which also applies to peers, has been condemned by some of the thousands waiting in line for their brief chance to pay their respects.

With 650 MPs and about 800 peers in the House of Lords, it means around 7,000 spaces in Westminster Hall could go to parliamentarians and their friends and family over the next few days.

Theresa May, together with her husband Sir Philip May, was spotted joining the queue filing past the Queen’s coffin

As she walked past the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall just before 8am this morning, the former PM stooped in a deep curtsy while Sir Philip bowed his head

Unlike the majority of those in attendance, the Mays did not seem to have queued for many hours for their chance to pay tribute to the late monarch

The Queen’s lying-in-state, which is open 24 hours a day, ends at 6.30am on Monday – the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.

Mrs May was one of 15 prime ministers during the Queen’s 70-year reign.

As she walked past the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall just before 8am this morning, the former PM stooped in a deep curtsy while Sir Philip bowed his head.

Among those in the queue who condemned the special access being granted to MPs and peers was Julie Newman, 56.

She said: ‘It is an abuse of privilege. I don’t mind queuing, because everybody queues. But there is no excuse for queue-jumping, it’s not fair.’

Dexter Bowls, 20, said: ‘For something like this, it is not fair. They’re not going to work at this time.’

Another said it was wrong for MPs to be given four free tickets, saying: ‘They shouldn’t be allowed any.’

One woman said: ‘They should be able to queue like everyone else in their own time.’

It can also be revealed that thousands of police officers taking part in the country’s biggest-ever security operation will not get a chance to visit the lying-in-state.

Officers are not being granted special access to Westminster Hall and have been told not to visit while on duty nearby.

A police source last night told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s disappointing but not surprising that MPs are able to jump the queue while the thousands of police officers working 12-hour days with cancelled holidays won’t get any opportunities to say goodbye.’

There was also anger among MPs’ staff that they are not being given priority access, unlike their employers and Commons officials.

Parliamentary staff can show their passes to enter and can apply for one guest ticket each.

According to the Spectator, one group of Conservative staffers wrote in a group chat: ‘As servants in Her Majesty’s Parliament, we were saddened to hear that the opportunity to pay our final respects to our late sovereign has been limited to only particular groups of pass holders.’

Sources said 140 MPs and 140 members of the Lords were invited to witness the arrival of the Queen’s cortege at Parliament yesterday before members of the public were allowed in.

Many put photos of the order of service on social media afterwards.

The special treatment for MPs, which also applies to peers, has been condemned by some of the thousands waiting in line for their brief chance to pay their respects

The queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state stretches for almost three miles from Westminster to London Bridge

Senior Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds posted his black-edged invitation, writing: ‘It was a privilege to represent my constituents today at this remarkable ceremony and moment of British history.

‘I hope all those who wish to pay their respects at the lying-in-state are able to do so.’

Conservative MP Laurence Robertson attended with his wife, tweeting: ‘Annie and I have been honoured and privileged to pay our last respects to Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in Westminster Hall today.’

The Mays spent time with the Royal Family at Balmoral while they were in Downing Street, with Mrs May having recounted one visit during her tribute to the Queen in the House of Commons last week.

She began by telling MPs how the Queen was ‘quite simply the most remarkable person I have ever met’ before sharing a funny anecdote of the time she dropped some cheese on a Balmoral picnic.

‘The hampers came from the castle, and we all mucked in to put the food and drink out on the table,’ she told the Commons.

‘I picked up some cheese, put it on a plate and was transferring it to the table. The cheese fell on the floor. I had a split-second decision to make.’

Mrs May paused as MPs burst into laughter, before adding: ‘I picked up the cheese, put it on the plate and put it on the table. I turned round to see that my every move had been watched very carefully by Her Majesty the Queen.

‘I looked at her. She looked at me and she just smiled. And the cheese remained on the table.’

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