Soccer star waits in line for 13 hours to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth

David Beckham, the former captain of England's national football team, waited in line for over 13 hours on Friday to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II. While other celebrities jumped the queue with VIP passes, soccer legend Beckham wanted to share the experience with "ordinary" people. TV footage shows him appearing to wipe away tears as he filed past the coffin at Westminster Hall. Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8th at the age of 96. 

Her body is currently lying in state for four-and-a-half days so that mourners can pay their respects. Many people were delighted that Beckham was in the queue with them. The football star told reporters: "It's a day for us to remember the incredible legacy that she's left."

Mr Beckham met the Queen several times during her reign. She presented him with honor at Buckingham Palace in 2003 for his services to football. Beckham joined the seven-kilometer-long queue at 2 am on Friday. He said: "I thought 2 am was going to be a little bit quieter. I was wrong." He described himself as a royalist and a "huge fan" of the royal family. After the Queen passed away, he wrote on Instagram: "How devastated we all feel today shows what she meant to people in this country.… How much she inspired us with her leadership. How she comforted us when times were tough." Around 750,000 people are expected to file past the Queen's coffin before her funeral on Monday.

Source: Breaking News English

Comprehension

What did celebrities use to jump the queue?
What did TV footage appear to show Mr Beckham wiping away?
How did people feel about Beckham being in the queue?
What incredible thing did Mr Beckham say the Queen had left?
How many times did the Queen and David Beckham meet?
At what time did Mr Beckham join the queue?
What did Mr Beckham describe himself as being?
What did Mr Beckham say the Queen inspired people with?

Discussion

What do you think of when you hear the word 'respect'?
What do you think about what you read?
What have you seen on the news about Queen Elizabeth's death?
What do you think of Beckham not opting for a VIP pass?
What would you wait in line for 13 hours for?
What's the best way to pay respects to the recently deceased?
What do you think of your nation's head of state?
What happens in your country at times of national mourning?
Who is the most famous person you've seen or met?
What do you think Queen Elizabeth II meant to people in the UK?

Vocabulary

royalist - a person who supports the principle of monarchy or a particular monarchy.
jump the queue - cut in line.
lying in state - the tradition in which the body of a deceased official, such as a head of state, is placed in a state building, either outside or inside a coffin, to allow the public to pay their respects.
mourners - a person who attends a funeral as a relative or friend of the dead person.
inspire - to make someone feel that they want to do something and can do it