Shetland star Douglas Henshall under fire for ‘offensive’ tweet claiming the Queen’s coffin is empty-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Social media users were upset by Douglas’ comment

Shetland star Douglas Henshall has faced a backlash on social media for claiming the Queen’s coffin is empty.

The 56-year-old, who has now retired from the role of Jimmy Perez in the blockbuster BBC drama, made the comments on Twitter before the former monarch’s state funeral on Monday.

Prior to the ceremony, hundreds of thousands of mourners queued for hours to pay their final respects to the Queen as she lay in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday, September 14 until Monday morning. 

Remarking on the queue, which at one point reached an 11-hour wait and stretched back five miles, the Glaswegian actor said: ‘Do you think the Queue would be so long if people knew that the Queen isn’t in that coffin? Or do they know and it’s just symbolic?’

Social media users blasted the statement, with one writing: ‘What a horrible comment. People come to give their respects. Time to be quiet.’

Another remarked: ‘Would you even consider suggesting such an offensive opinion as that if the person in the coffin belonged to a member of your family and your friends and family came to pay their respects prior to their funeral?’

‘Do you think you could just wind your neck in for a while and respect people’s grief and the grief of a family and acknowledge that no one is queuing to see a body or a coffin. Honestly such a brilliant actor and yet completely devoid of basic respect,’ a Royal fan angrily penned. 

The Queen had been lying-in-state before the funeral (Credits: AP)

Douglas’ tweet angered some social media users (Picture: BBC/ITV Studios/Silverprint/Mark Mainz)

A mourner added: ‘Of course she’s in the coffin. Do you really think her children and grandchildren would stand vigil by an empty coffin?’

After being flown down from Scotland to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s coffin was transported to the historic building on Wednesday by a royal procession, with King Charles III, Prince Harry, and Prince William among those walking.

Billion are expected to watch the Queen’s funeral (Picture: PA)

There are a number of traditions associated with royal coffins, from the placement of the Imperial State Crown, Orb, and Sceptre during the lying in state period, to the lead lining.

It is royal tradition for coffins to be lined with lead because the material can preserve bodies for up to a year.

Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Camilla, Queen Consort at the State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen (Picture: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock)

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Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh was buried in 2021 in a coffin lined with lead and in 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales was also laid to rest in a lead-lined coffin that is said to have weighed a quarter tonne due to the lining.

After the funeral, which will be attended by 2,000 attendees including celebrities such as Killing Eve star Sandra Oh and US president Joe Biden, the Queen will be laid to rest at Windsor Castle.

Metro.co.uk has approached reps for Douglas Henshall for comment.

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