David Koch takes a dig at Karl Stefanovic as rival breakfast shows film side by side in London

Sunrise host David Koch has taken a cheeky dig at Today’s Karl Stefanovic as they face off in the media scrum outside Buckingham Palace. 

Seven and Nine’s rival breakfast teams have been forced to operate in close quarters this week while broadcasting live in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth.  

Yet Koch, 66, saw humour in their less-than-ideal situation on Thursday, posting a tongue-in-cheek Instagram post referring to Stefanovic as ‘rif-raf’. 

Sunrise host David Koch, 66, (left) took a cheeky dig at Today’s Karl Stefanovic, 48, (right) as the rival breakfast anchors faced off in the media scrum outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday 

Posting to Instagram Stories, Koch uploaded a photo of Stefanovic locked outside the gates of the Royal Palace looking anguished while resting his head between the metal bars. 

‘Gotta keep the rif-raf out @KarlStefanovic [laughing-crying emoji],’ Koch quipped in the caption. 

Karl, who is known for his larrikin sense of humour, promptly re-shared the post to his own Instagram Stories. 

Posting to Instagram Stories, Koch uploaded this photo of Stefanovic locked outside the Palace gates looking anguished while resting his head between the metal bars. ‘Gotta keep the rif-raf out @KarlStefanovic [laughing-crying emoji],’ Koch quipped in the caption

It comes as the Aussie breakfast war heats up in the UK ahead of Her Majesty’s funeral on Monday. 

A 100-strong media contingent from Australia is currently reporting on the ground in London, with daily royal programming stretching from breakfast through to the evening news. 

Joining the Sunrise and Today presenters is Sky News talent Laura Jayes, Peta Credlin and Paul Murray.

It comes as the Aussie breakfast war heats up in the UK ahead of Her Majesty’s funeral on Monday. (Pictured: Sunrise co-hosts Natalie Barr and Koch reporting outside Buckingham Palace this week) 

A 100-strong media contingent from Australia is currently reporting on the ground in London, with daily royal programming stretching from breakfast through to the evening news. (Pictured: Today co-hosts Stefanovic and Alison Langdon reporting outside Buckingham Palace this week) 

Channel 10 reporters Lisa Wilkinson, Sandra Sully, Angela Bishop, Ursula Heger and Jennifer Keyte have also flown to London following the Queen’s death. 

Meanwhile, a sprawling media village has been set up around the Palace periphery, housing over 12,000 media workers from across the world. 

The Queen’s funeral, and the surrounding events, are set to become one of the biggest events in Britain since the Olympics, with an estimated two million people flooding to central London every day. 

Australia has joined much of the world in mourning Queen Elizabeth II, as her death prompts the first change in head of state in more than seven decades. (Pictured: The Queen in the drawing room at Balmoral, Scotland, last Tuesday. She died at her estate on Thursday)

Australia has joined much of the world in mourning Queen Elizabeth II, as her death prompts the first change in head of state in more than seven decades.

A statement from Buckingham Palace early on Friday (AEST) confirmed the 96-year-old’s death.

‘The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,’ Buckingham Palace said.

A statement from Buckingham Palace early on Friday (AEST) confirmed the 96-year-old’s death. She is pictured in Salisbury, England, on October 15 2020 

‘The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the Queen, who is succeeded by her son King Charles III in a move that is expected to renew Australia’s republican debate.

‘An historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end,’ Mr Albanese said in a statement.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) offered his condolences to the Royal Family, the British people, and all his own citizens who held Her Majesty in the highest regard

‘The government and the people of Australia offer our deepest condolences to the royal family, who are grieving for a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – the person whom for so long was their greatest inner strength.’

Mr Albanese said that ‘from her famous first trip to Australia, the only reigning sovereign to ever visit, it was clear Her Majesty held a special place in her heart for Australia.

‘Fifteen more tours before cheering crowds in every part of our country confirmed the special place she held in ours.’

The Queen first visited Australia with Prince Philip in 1954, arriving on the SS Gothic which steamed into Sydney Harbour after almost six weeks at sea. She is pictured with Prince Philip at Parliament House in Canberra during that tour