Vanessa Feltz was overcome with emotion during the broadcast of her TalkTV show on Monday evening as she discussed the Queen finally being laid to rest after her state funeral.
The 60-year-old was in discussion with Royal commentator Emily Andrews and Richard Trice about the late monarch’s committal service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
As Emily spoke about the moment the monarch’s Lord Chamberlain, Lord Parker, broke his Wand of Office and then laid it on her coffin before it was taken down to the royal vault, Vanessa could be seen resting her head on her hand as she fought to control her reaction.
Reflecting on the finality of those acts, which signify the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, she commented: ‘It’s all a bit much, isn’t it? Even though we’re not seeing it. This is somehow…’
As her contributors agreed, the presenter added, with a wobble in her voice: ‘We’ll never see her again,’ before being heard to sniff.
Emily was a woman prepared though, as she slipped a hand into her pocket to bring out a tissue for Vanessa, discreetly sliding it across the desk so the host could use it – for which she mouthed a quiet ‘thank you’ before dabbing at her eyes.
As Vanessa composed herself, Andrew sought to console with a show of pride as he said: ‘It is finality but equally we should draw pride from what our military, so many people – I mean, thousands of people have played a part in today and it’s shown off Britain at its very, very best. It is all over the world, four billion people thinking, “Wow – no one else could do that except Britain.”’
The presenter, who also became tearful when she announced the death of Her Majesty live on television on September 8, previously slammed protests ‘kicking off’ ahead of the Queen’s funeral as she urged people to ‘maintain decorum’ before letting ‘discussions rage’ afterwards.
‘Discussions about redundancies or inheritance tax are absolutely valid. I think protests are valid, free speech is imperative and extremely important,’ she told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning.
‘But I also think, it’s perfectly possible, as people do in their own lives, to maintain a certain level of decorum, in the discussion quite frankly, until Monday is over, and when Monday is over, and the grieving process for the royal family, then they’ve got several more days for mourning for themself, we will realise they’re going on and appreciate and accept and everything else.
‘And then let the discussions rage, why not, but I really feel, just in terms of manners, what’s appropriate,’ she added.
Vanessa Feltz hosts the drivetime slot 4-7pm on weeknights on TalkTV.
