THIS Morning presenter Alice Beer was replaced by Isla Traquair today after her coverage of mourners queuing to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was slammed as “disrespectful”.
Alice, 57, was relocated to Westminster Hall to report on the atmosphere inside after she was given special access to see the Queen lying in state.
Isla Traquair took over from Alice Beer today reporting on mourners queuing to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin
Alice was relocated to Westminster Hall and reported on the atmosphere inside after she was allowed in to see the Queen lying in state
Former ITV newsreader Isla, 42, took over speaking to people waiting for hours to pay their respects to our longest ever monarch.
Holly introduced Isla as the reporter “keeping spirits up in the queue'” and said: “In just a moment we’ll speak to Isla Traquair who is keeping people’s spirits up in the queue.”
Isla – who has also worked for Channel 5 – cut a sombre figure on Lambeth Bridge today in contrast to Wednesday’s coverage of the queue which saw Alice handing out doughnuts and calling it a ‘dress rehearsal’ for Reading Festival.
Holly then revealed Alice had been relocated to report on the mood in Westminster Hall.
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Holly said: “First let’s hear from Alice who is at the exit at Westminster Hall.
“Alice, you were actually able to go inside and view the coffin earlier this morning. What was that moment like for you?”
Incredible. Just before dawn I was allowed into an appointed slot in Westminster Hall,” Alice replied.
“Let’s just be very clear, I didn’t take anyone’s place in the queue. I wasn’t queue jumping. This was a a slot for a reporter or member of the press so that I could tell you about it. Witness it and share it with you. And that was a complete honour.”
The TV presenter had walked up and down Albert Embankment with a microphone and boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
She said: “We can pay our respects and eat doughnuts at the same time… I’ve become the most popular person in the queue.”
Alice stopped to speak to a young man waiting with his mother in the queue, and added: “You would think it would be just staunch royalists here but no we’ve got some teenagers.”
Commenting on the drizzle, she told him: “Mind you it’s a bit like Reading festival… you’ll be doing that next year!”
Viewers were left stunned by her comments and shared their annoyance on Twitter.
One said: “Does Alice realise it’s the actual queen these people are queuing for and not queen the band?”
A second achoed: “That woman interviewing people in the queue to see the queens coffin needs sacking!!! How disrepectful!! Its not a festival queue!!!”
A third shared: “Jesus wept you are treating this queue like it’s the opening for the new ride at Alton Towers . Not a good look, have some respect.”
A fourth raged: “Interviewing people like they’re queuing for a concert and treating it like a party? And then the reporter saying to one guy ‘this is just a dress rehearsal for Reading Festival next year’… seriously?! Disrespectful is an understatement”
Alice handed out doughnuts and made jokes while chatting to mourners queuing to see the Queen in London yesterday
