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Stephen Fry and Gordon Ramsay among famous names bidding farewell to Queen

Messages also came from actress Kate Beckinsale and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.

Alex Green
Monday 19 September 2022 10:38 EDT
Stephen Fry meets the Queen at Buckingham Palace (PA)
Stephen Fry meets the Queen at Buckingham Palace (PA) (PA Archive)

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Stephen Fry has praised the ā€œritual, ceremony and symbolā€ of the Queenā€™s funeral, as he joined celebrities and other public figures in bidding farewell to her.

The actor and comedian, 65, tuned in to the service from a hotel room in New York from 3am local time.

He said on Twitter: ā€œWatching the #queensfuneral from 3am onwards in a New York hotel room somehow brings me closer to it all than if I were back home.

ā€œWords canā€™t compete with such ritual, ceremony and symbol. Think how many jigsaw puzzles will come from thisā€¦ā€

Gordon Ramsay shared a photo of the Queen in a bright pink outfit and wished her farewell.

The celebrity chef, 55, said: ā€œToday we join the world as we mourn and commemorate Her Majesty The Queen.

ā€œThe very definition of an inspiration, who touched the lives of us all.

ā€œRest in peace your Majesty, your legacy and love will live on in our hearts forever.ā€

Another tribute came from British Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale, who shared a photo of the Queen waving goodbye, on Instagram.

The 49-year-old, best known for starring in the Underworld film series, wrote: ā€œFly safe, Maā€™am. Goodnight and god bless xxxā€

ITV host Lorraine Kelly, 62, simply reshared the last official photo of the Queen, taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, which was released on Sunday ahead of the funeral.

TV star Amanda Holden, 51, shared a black and white photo from the Queenā€™s coronation in 1953, writing: ā€œRest in Peace your Majestyā€ before adding a black love heart emoji.

DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles said he was ā€œincredibly proudā€ of the armed forces, security services and police who ā€œmanaged to pull off and manage such a huge security event and dignified funeral cortegeā€.

Knowles, 59, added: ā€œGreat to see troops from all around the commonwealth too. Extraordinary spectacle with the world watching.ā€

Socialite Tamara Ecclestone, 38, also bid farewell, writing on Instagram: ā€œI donā€™t know what I expected, I suppose I expected our Queen to be immortal.

ā€œWaking up today my heart hurts it feels so real so final.

ā€œThinking of her family who havenā€™t really had a chance to mourn privately instead they have been so gracious and inclusive of us all.ā€

Monday saw VIPs, dignitaries and mourners gather in the capital to say a final farewell to the Queen, who died at Balmoral in Scotland on September 8 aged 96.

The service at Westminster Abbey and subsequent procession marked the climax of a week of ceremony.

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