Two East Lancashire MPs volunteered as marshals in the queue to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin at the weekend.
MP for Pendle Anthony Stephenson and MP for Hyndburn Sara Britcliffe joined colleagues on Sunday to help marshal the queue in London, as members of the public spent hours waiting to see the Queen lying in state.
A Tweet by the Pendle MP said that he was joined by the Hyndburn MP, former home secretary Priti Patel, and other Conservative MPs as well as civil servants.
Andrew Stephenson, a member of the privy council said he was not at the proclamation at St George's Castle or invited to the funeral but was able to pay respect to the Queen when she arrived at Westminster Hall.
After this, he decided to marshal in the queue to help members of the public who were also coming to pay their respects.
Some of the marshalls on the same section of the route as me on Sunday @SarBritcliffeMP, @pritipatel, @amandamilling, @GregClarkMP, Virginia Crosbie MP, Andrew Percy MP and lots of wonderful civil servants 👏 pic.twitter.com/LLPxwOq5a0
— Rt Hon Andrew Stephenson MP (@Andrew4Pendle) September 20, 2022
He said: "It was incredibly humbling to pay a very small part in helping out.
"I had the privilege of being able to pay my respects when the coffin first arrived in Westminster Hall as a member of the privy council.
"It was a privilege to be a part of helping people in the queue and helping as many people get through to see the Queen and pay their respects."
Some members of the public queued for more than 12 hours to see the Queen in advance of her funeral yesterday (September 19).
The queue was closed just after 10pm on Sunday evening, with the lying in state ending at about 6.30am on Monday.
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral took place at 11am at Westminster Abbey, followed by a procession being led through the streets of London.
The Queen was then taken by hearse to Windsor Castle where a second service was held at St George’s Chapel before she was laid to rest alongside her husband Prince Phillip in a private family service in the evening.
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