Bournemouth girl pushed by man 'who tried to grab Queen's coffin'

Louise Giltrap, 43, was in London with her two daughters, seven-year-old Darcy and 15-year-old Lexi, along with her sister and her two children, to see the Queen lie in state. 

But all three were left “shaken” after a man had forced his way through them and went to grab the Queen’s coffin late on Friday night. 

Speaking with the Echo, mum Louise, from Southbourne, said she and Darcy were in the second row as they walked down the steps towards the Queen’s coffin and, as they bowed their heads and lifted them again, they “saw a man run for the coffin”. 

Darcy, Lexi and Louise outside Parliament (Image: NQ)

She added: “Lexi was pushed as the man went through and when they wrestled him to the floor, Darcy got bashed and had to move out of the way.  

“My sister grabbed Darcy from behind. It all happened so quickly. We had our heads down, so we hadn’t seen him come from behind. 

“It looked to us on reflection that he was trying to push the coffin over and take the Royal Standard. 

“Darcy thought he was trying to steal the crown, but he tapped the coffin, turned around and pulled the flag over his head as if he tried to take a ‘funny’ photo; I’m not sure, I don’t think there was anybody else with him.” 

The Queen lying in state (Image: PA)

Louise said they all left promptly as they “didn’t know what to do or think”. She added: “Little Darcy was quite distressed as was my older daughter and my sister’s two girls. We were all quite shaken and tearful. It was very disrespectful.” 

Seven-year-old Darcy said she was “a little bit scared” when the man pushed her and added that the Queen “means a lot” to her. 

The group had been waiting in the queue for more than 15 hours after leaving Bournemouth at around 3am on friday.  

Louise said waiting in the long queue was “hard going” but Darcy “never complained once and stood gracefully”. 

She added: “The police throughout the day were absolutely amazing. They had given Darcy muffins and sweets and drinks and really looked afterwards in the queue.” 

Scotland Yard detained a man in Westminster Hall where the Queen is lying in state and he was arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody. 

A spokesperson for UK Parliament said a man had moved out of the queue towards the Catafalque. The queue restarted with “minimal disruption” a short time later, the spokesperson said.