Entertainment
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral: From Sir Elton John to David Beckham and Sir David Attenborough, which celebrities might attend?-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Sandra Oh and Bear Grylls have been confirmed.
Stars have spent the past week paying their respects to the late monarch (Picture: Getty)
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will take place at 11am today (September 19) and the historic event is sure to see famous faces come together to mourn Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The Queen died ‘peacefully’ on September 8, aged 96, while at Balmoral Castle and surrounded by loved ones, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
Following her death, the Queen’s coffin has been lying in state in Westminster Hall, with a whole host of celebrities joining the miles-long queue to pay their respects.
Speculation is rife around which celebs will attend the funeral, with Bear Grylls already pictured outside Westminster Abbey in London, as one of the fist confirmed celebs in attendance.
The TV personality is there as chief scout and he will represent Scouts at the state funeral and pay his final respects to the Queen, who was a patron.
Another confirmed attendee is Killing Eve actress Sandra Oh, who will attend the funeral as part of the Canadian delegation.
The Queen died age 96 on September 8 (Picture: Getty)
Her coffin has been lying in state in Westminster Hall (Picture: Getty)
The star will take part in a procession of national honours as part of the service, joining fellow Canadians musician Gregory Charles and Olympic swimmer Mark Tewkesbury.
Over the past week, the likes of David Beckham, Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, and Tilda Swinton were among those viewing the Queen’s coffin.
Footballing legend Beckham has been a vocal supporter of the Queen over the years, and received an OBE in 2013 for his services to the sport.
He was recently praised by fellow royal fans for queueing for 13 hours with members of the public before becoming tearful as he bowed his head to Her Majesty’s coffin in respect inside the Hall.
Bear Grylls arrived at Westminster Abbey (Picture: Reuters)
Queen Elizabeth II dead: Latest updates
What time is the Queen’s funeral today and where is it taking place?
Queen’s last official portrait released ahead of her funeral
Drivers told ‘avoid central London’ with major road closures for Queen’s funeral
Full schedule for the Queen’s funeral and committal service
Head to Metro.co.uk’s Queen Elizabeth II tag page for the latest updates, and sign Metro.co.uk’s book of condolence to Her Majesty here.
The sporting star queued for 13 hours to view the Queen’s coffin (Picture: Getty)
David Beckham received an OBE for his services to football (Picture: WireImage)
Actress Tilda also cut a sombre figure as she viewed the coffin after joining the queue when it was five miles long.
Meanwhile, This Morning presenters Holly and Phillip attended in a ‘professional capacity’, ITV bosses claimed, as they filmed a segment fo Tuesday’s show.
It’s not yet known whether the daytime duo will attend the funeral, but they have covered the period of mourning on the show following the Queen’s death and This Morning shall be off air while the funeral takes place.
Other celebrities rumoured to attend the funeral – which is thought to see over two million people line the streets – include Sir David Attenborough.
Tilda Swinton bowed her head in respect (Picture: BBC)
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield filmed a segment for This Morning at Westminster Hall (Picture: BBC)
The naturalist was born just weeks after the late monarch and the pair shared a close working relationship and friendship.
Speaking to the BBC during the Queen’s procession to Westminster Hall this week, he referred to the display of mourners as a moment of ‘sadness and thanksgiving’.
Sir Elton John was another who has worked closely with the Royal Family throughout his career.
Sir David Attenborough was born just weeks after the Queen (Picture: Getty)
Sir Elton John had a close relationship with the late monarch (Picture: PA)
The Your Song hitmaker was knighted by the Queen back in 1998 and recently paid tribute following her death, taking to the stage in Toronto to praise her ‘inspiring presence’.
Reflecting on the Queen’s life, he dedicated a rendition of his 1974 track Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me to her, while images of Queen were displayed on screens.
‘She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace and decency and a genuine caring warmth. I’m 75 and she’s been with me all my life and I feel very sad that she won’t be with me anymore, but I’m glad she’s at peace, and I’m glad she’s at rest and she deserves it’, he said.
Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber performed a special gig for the Queen at his own home (Picture: Dave Thompson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Gary Barlow has performed for the Queen several times (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Other names in the mix for the funeral guest list include racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart, who got to know the Queen through his friendship with her daughter Princess Anne.
He was friends with the Queen for decades and has been extremely emotional in the aftermath of her death, having been meant to visit Balmoral on September 8.
In a recent appearance on BBC, a grief-stricken Sir Jackie said it was a ‘kindness’ the Queen ‘slipped away’ and said she was ‘the most impressive woman I’ve ever known’.
Sir Jackie Stewart was a close friend of the Queen’s (Picture: PA)
Sandra Oh will attend as part of the Canadian delegation (Picture: Reuters)
Elsewhere, Andrew Lord Lloyd-Webber is also rumoured to be attending the monarch’s funeral, as is pop star and Take That member Gary Barlow.
The duo co-wrote the song Sing for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and performed it privately for Her Majesty at the composer’s own home in Hampshire, which he recently recalled as being a ‘wonderful evening’.
There’s further speculation around whether James Bond star Daniel Craig will show up, who famously appeared with the Queen at the opening of the 2012 London Olympics.
Millions are set to line the streets for the historic event (Picture: Colin McPherson/Sygma via Getty Images)
The Queen’s son King Charles III immediately became monarch after she died (Picture: PA)
Other names swirling around the rumour mill include Stephen Fry and Dame Helen Mirren.
Of course, there will be plenty of world leaders in attendance, from recently-appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss to US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be the first state funeral held in the UK since the televised funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
MORE : Royals from around the world and global leaders on funeral guest list
MORE : An actor, a model and a yoga teacher: the royals outside ‘The Firm’ attending the Queen’s funeral
Entertainment – MetroRead More