Tracy Grimshaw refused to watch her previous emotional tribute to the Queen while covering the royal farewell because viewers ‘don’t need me blubbing again’.
Last week Grimshaw – who has built a staunch reputation for journalistic professionalism – had to turn away from camera as she teared up while describing her thoughts at seeing the late Queen Elizabeth lying in state at Westminster Hall.
Grimshaw showed her emotions were still raw on Monday evening as she stood with Nine News anchorman Peter Overton outside London’s Westminster Abbey.
Veteran journalist Tracy Grimshaw has again teared up talking about seeing the Queen lying in state
After a clip of her previous tribute was shown Overton told Grimshaw she could put her earpiece back in because she ‘didn’t look at a frame of that’.
Overton commented that Grimshaw was ‘clearly still most moved by the experience and you have seen some things in your journalistic career, your stellar career’.
‘I haven’t watched it since the night,’ Grimshaw confirmed.
‘If I listen to it or watch it it will set me off again and I didn’t want that because we have a lot of work to do over the next few hours and you don’t need me blubbing every couple of minutes but it is very powerful in there.’
Grimshaw reflected once more on her experience of seeing the Queen lying in state.
Grimshaw (pictured) was overcome with raw emotion while reporting live from Westminster Hall this week
‘I think because it is so quiet, I think because it is so quiet, I think because you are absolutely focused and, to be honest, I can tell you I set myself off in there because I started to think about how she was still on duty,’ she said.
‘How she (the Queen) had never flagged and worked right up until two days before she died and she never quit.
‘And here she was sitting on that pedestal, being there for her people when her husband is 40 minutes drive away up the road at Windsor and I bet she just wants to be with him and that set me off and then I couldn’t get it back after that.’
Grimshaw, who recently stepped down from her longtime role hosting A Current Affair, had to blink away tears and shake her head to keep her emotions under cool control once more.
The clip of herself that Grimshaw refuses to watch has her very visibly struggling to restrain tears
‘Wow, OK, where to start,’ the 62-year-old said her voice breaking.
After a long pause, Grimshaw took a deep breath and went on: ‘It’s very moving in there. I was going to come out and be very journalistic and give you all the history.
‘The history of the building and the history of the Queen’s association with that building,’ she continued, before struggling to hold back a sob.
‘I’m not going to do that. I’m going to take a moment,’ Grimshaw said, tears in her eyes, and turned her back to the camera.
The normally stoic A Current Affair host put on a rare show of vulnerability after seeing Queen Elizabeth II lying in state (pictured)
‘Wow, okay, where to start,’ the 62-year-old said, as she struggled to hold back years, her voice breaking. After a long pause, Grimshaw took a deep breath and went on: ‘It’s very moving in there. I was going to come out and be very journalistic and give you all the history’
As she faced away from the lens, Grimshaw could be heard emitting a sob and a nervous laugh as she attempted to compose herself before continuing.
‘After all these years and she’s still doing her duty. And I really think she’d just like to get back to her husband,’ she added once she regained her composure.
The King and the Queen’s children will hold a 15-minute vigil at her coffin in Westminster Hall on Friday evening.
‘I’m going to take a moment,’ Grimshaw said, tears in her eyes, and turned her back to the camera. As she faced away from the lens, Grimshaw could be heard emitting a sob and a nervous laugh as she attempted to compose herself before continuing
‘After all these years and she’s still doing her duty. And I really think she’d just like to get back to her husband,’ she added once she regained her composure
Princes and William and will walk together in the procession of the Queen’s funeral on Monday morning.
Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday September 19.
King Charles III will walk behind the oak coffin as it is moved from the Houses of Parliament to the abbey.
The hour-long service will be attended by royals and other VIPs, and televised around the world.
The King and the Queen’s children will hold a 15-minute vigil at her coffin in Westminster Hall on Friday evening. The late Queen is pictured
At 1pm, the coffin will be transported to Wellington Arch via The Mall past Buckingham Palace.
The Queen will then be carried to Windsor, where she will be buried at St George’s Chapel alongside Prince Philip.
The Queen’s state funeral will end with a two-minute national silence in a ‘fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign’ before she is laid to rest beside her late husband.
Grimshaw flew over to London to witness Wednesday’s procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
The TV icon appeared in a rare Instagram photo with ABC News Breakfast’s Lisa Millar, 53, on Wednesday while in London covering Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
The King and the Queen’s children will hold a 15-minute vigil at her coffin in Westminster Hall on Friday evening
Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday September 19
In the photo, shared by Millar, the pair looked are seen smiling and sharing a laugh together outside Buckingham Palace.
‘Finally got to say congratulations to Tracy Grimshaw for an amazing career,’ Millar wrote.
‘Just needed to get to the other side of the world to catch her!’
Grimshaw, who has her own Instagram account but hasn’t posted since April, is yet to like or comment on Millar’s post.
The Queen’s state funeral will end with a two-minute national silence in a ‘fitting tribute to an extraordinary reign’ before she is laid to rest beside her late husband
Earlier this month, Grimshaw announced she will be departing A Current Affair after 17 years as anchor and that her final night on the show will be in November.
She explained she was ‘tired’ after decades of shift work and insisted she hadn’t been pushed out by a ‘boys’ club’ at Channel Nine.
‘I’ve basically been a shift worker for 26 years, driving to work before dawn for nine years on the Today show, and the past 17 years driving home after dark here on A Current Affair and it’s time for less of that daily obligation,’ she said at the end of the show on Monday night, September 5.
Tracy flew over to London to witness Wednesday’s procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. The TV icon appeared in a rare Instagram photo with ABC News Breakfast’s Lisa Millar, 53, on Wednesday. Pictured together
‘Finally got to say congratulations to Tracy Grimshaw for an amazing career,’ Millar wrote. ‘Just needed to get to the other side of the world to catch her!’
Grimshaw concluded: ‘I’m around until November then I’m going to take a long holiday, but it’s business as usual until then. See you tomorrow night.’
In January 2006, she took over from Ray Martin as host of A Current Affair, her most well-known news role.
‘She put me to shame,’ Martin said. ‘She’s so good. I love what she does and I love watching her.’
Earlier this month, Grimshaw announced she will be departing A Current Affair after 17 years as anchor and that her final night on the show will be in November
A young Grimshaw started her career as a reporter in Nine’s Melbourne newsroom in 1981.
The beloved television journalist celebrated 40 years at Channel Nine in October last year.
Deborah Knight, Georgie Gardner, Brooke Boney and Sylvia Jeffreys are among the frontrunners who could replace Grimshaw as the host of A Current Affair.
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