Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were accused of avoiding the queue to see the lying-in-state.
She said: "It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who haven't been able to visit Westminster in person...
"We of course respect those rules, however we realise it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction.The presenter explained that the pair were escorted around the edges of the hall to a platform at the back. This was in contrast to those paying respects who went past the coffin and were given time to pause, she said.
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