David Beckham waited 12 hours to say goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II

(CNN) — England’s legendary footballer David Beckham was caught queuing to see the Queen in London.

Speaking to reporters standing in line, Beckham said he had been waiting with members of the public for more than 12 hours.

“We all want to be here together and we all want to enjoy something that celebrates the incredible life of our Queen,” Beckham said.

“You know today something like this has to be shared together. So, you know we were here. We’re eating Pringles. We’re having lemon wedges, sandwiches and coffee,” the footballer continued.

Speaking to an ITV news reporter, Beckham said he “grew up in a royal family” and came on behalf of his grandparents, who would have queued if they were still alive.

Beckham described how lucky he was to meet the Queen on several occasions, noting that it was an honor for him to play for the English football team.

“I’ve always wanted to represent my country, captain my country, and every time we put on that Three Lions jersey, I put my arms up and we sang, ‘God save us. Queen.’ That’s something that means a lot to us,” he said.

Dressed in a black suit, navy coat and beret, Beckham said his “knee was fine” despite being in line for more than 12 hours.

Beckham took to social media to take selfies with fans, and a woman who stood in line with him for hours told reporters she had “huge respect” for the athlete, who she said was “respectful as he was”.

The line stretches from Westminster Hall, where the body of the late monarch lies, for miles along the south bank of the River Thames. It is dotted with iconic landmarks such as the London Eye, Royal Festival Hall and the Globe Theatre.

It is expected to reach a length of 14.5 kilometers.