‘Ma’am, it’s now your turn to do an interview with me...’ What playful Eamonn told the ‘amazing’ Queen as she presented him with an OBE
EAMONN Holmes has admitted he felt humbled and nervous yesterday as the Queen presented him with his OBE at a ceremony in London.
But that didn’t stop the 58-year-old north Belfastman cheekily asking the monarch to do an interview with him.
Eamonn who was accompanied by his wife Ruth Langsford and two of his children at Buckingham Palace revealed the Queen simply laughed off the request during a longer-than-usual chat with him as he walked forward to receive his gong.
He described the 92-year-old monarch as “amazing”.
In a live interview from the Palace with ITV’s Good Morning programme which he and his wife regularly host, Eamonn said the Queen’s first question was to ask, “Where’s Ruth?”
And he joked that she told him she’d only agreed to carry out the investiture ceremony because she’d switched on Good Morning and realised he and Ruth weren’t on yesterday morning.
Eamonn hadn’t known in advance who would give him his OBE. “And when we entered the hall it was her Majesty the Queen so it came from the Sovereign so it doesn’t really get much better than that, ”he said.
He said the Queen remarked on how he must meet a lot of interesting people in his job — and he quickly pitched his bid for a Royal exclusive.
“I said ‘Ma’am I have interviewed almost everyone in your family, except you.’
“I told her that she had to put that straight and that I had to get the interview and she just said, ‘Ha, ha, ha’.”
The smartly dressed Eamonn who wore a tailored suit, light blue waistcoat and tie admitted he was nervous during the ceremony which recognised his 40 years in broadcasting.
This Morning stand-in presenter Amanda Holden praised Ruth’s outfit which matched her husband in a sky blue gown, which had floral patterns at the waist
Amanda told This Morning viewers that Eamonn and Ruth were “two of the nicest people in showbiz”.
Earlier this week Britain’s Got More Talent host Stephen Mulhern paid tribute to Eamonn, saying: “For me and all the other presenters in the industry you are the king, without question.”
Ruth Langsford said she felt ‘very emotional’ watching the investiture.
“I definitely had a tear in my eye.
“It’s a very proud moment for all of us but mostly for Eamonn, with all those years of broadcast- ing and nobody deserves it more.”
Eamonn said the “wonderful and magical but surreal” ceremony was classy with a live orchestra playing chamber music.
“It was a fairytale and I didn’t think I would be as moved or as emotional. It was wonderful,” he added.
He said that it was humbling to look around the Palace at the other 60 people who were receiving their awards. “To be in that esteemed company was a tremendous tribute,” he said. But he added that he felt sorry for women who were being honoured. “They had all to do that curtsey bit. All I had to do was a specific neck bow.
“You were told what to do exactly by all the equerries. ”
Eamonn’s 16-year-old son Jack was present at the Palace along with 27-year-old Rebecca, his daughter from his first marriage.
After the ceremony Eamonn threw a party for his family and friends at the Ivy in London.
In December last year Eamonn told the Belfast Telegraph that he was accepting his honour on behalf of everyone in Northern Ireland.
He added: “If there are some people who aren’t happy that’s fine too.
“I will totally respect their opinions.”
❝ It was a fairytale and I didn’t think I would be as moved or as emotional