ELAINE Ward, 61, is an employee engagement manager and lives in Ashford, Surrey, with her husband Neil, 59.

While in line to see Queen Elizabeth lying in-state, she bumped into David Beckham, who despite his fame and fortune, was stood alongside the public, waiting for his turn.

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Elaine revealed the real reason David stood aside her and refused preferential treatment.

“As I stood in the queue that stretched for miles ahead of me, suddenly my phone beeped with a text. ‘Don’t look,‘ it read, ‘But David Beckham is behind you.’

It was from my friend Gwen, 53, who was standing next to me, and I immediately laughed, thinking she was playing a joke on me.

But when I turned around, there he was. I couldn’t believe it – seeing such an incredibly famous person next to me felt surreal.

When I joined The Queue in London to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lying in state in Westminster Hall, I certainly didn’t expect to end up in front of one of the most recognisable men in the world!

The news that the Queen had died on September 8 last year left me deeply saddened, as she’d been a constant throughout my life, and someone I had admired and respected.

In 2007, I lost both my mother and my younger brother to illness, aged 68 and 43, and hearing the Queen had passed away took me back to that time in my life, and the feelings of grief and loss I’d experienced. 

When I heard that the public would be able to view the Queen’s coffin lying in state, I decided to be part of a moment in history.

So, late at night on September 15, I travelled from Surrey to London by train, and joined the queue at 2am at Southwark, with my friend Gwen and her daughter Daisy, 17.

My husband Neil has mobility issues, so sadly wasn’t able to join us.

Another friend had queued the day before and it had taken her eight hours to reach Westminster Hall, so we were expecting to be in line for around the same length of time and had packed snacks and were wearing sensible shoes and warm layers.

As the queue moved forward through the streets of London, the atmosphere was wonderful.

There was a real camaraderie – strangers chatting, sharing snacks and holding people’s spaces in the queue if they needed to nip into a shop or a loo at a hotel. 

By 7am, we’d reached the South Bank and that was when Gwen sent me the text about David Beckham. 

Dressed in a dark coat, tie and flat cap, he was with his assistant and keeping his head down, clearly trying not to draw attention to himself, which was probably why we hadn’t noticed him before then.

I’m not a football fan, but I instantly recognised him and couldn’t believe someone as famous as him was lining up with everyone else.I couldn’t resist speaking to him and leaning towards him, I said: ‘I know who you are, but don’t worry, I won’t say anything.’ He smiled and said: ‘Thank you.’ 

After that, we struck up a friendly conversation about everything from the weather to his career, and of course, the Queen, who he’d met a number of times.

He was so down to earth, polite and chatty.

I asked him why he hadn’t played the VIP card and jumped the queue. 

He said he wouldn’t have dreamed of doing that – he wanted to wait his turn like everyone else and also do it for his grandparents, who had admired the Queen, and would have queued, too.

Despite his best efforts to go unnoticed, word soon spread, and he was happy to chat with people and pose for photos while we all continued to shuffle forward.

After 14 hours, I made it to the entrance of Westminster Hall.

I was exhausted, cold and my feet were aching, but I didn’t care. David and I had already agreed we weren’t quitters and would stand in line as long as it took. 

Just before we both entered the hall, I said goodbye to him.

I told him I’d really enjoyed his company and he said he’d enjoyed mine, too.

Then, we stood in silence on opposite sides of the Queen’s magnificent coffin, draped in the Royal Standard, surrounded by guards. 

Afterwards, Gwen, Daisy and I headed home, tired but happy we’d been a part of something so historic and emotional, and still in disbelief that we’d shared the experience with David Beckham. 

As we reach the first anniversary of the Queen’s death this week, for so many reasons, my day in The Queue is something I’ll never forget.” 

BTW

More than 250,000 people stood in line to see the Queen lie in state.

Along with Becks, other famous faces who queued to pay their respects included Sharon Osbourne and Susanna Reid. 

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