Guarding the late Queen's coffin is my proudest chapter

Police officer and former Scotland rugby star tells Liam Rudden how Monarch lying in state left her tearful as she realised the enormity of occasion

- Liam Rudden

A POLICE officer who writes gritty crime thrillers has told how guarding Queen Elizabeth's coffin reduced her to tears.

Lee Cockburn, also a Scotland international capped rugby player, was in charge for the monarch's lying in state in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, in September 2022.

Over four days, the acting inspector was charged with the safety of more than 33,000 people who queued for hours to file past the coffin as well as the Royal Family as they observed a private vigil.

Mum-of-two Lee, 56, from Edinburgh, said: "I received a call asking if I was available to cover inspector duties at St Giles for the full duration of the Queen's presence there. I was so honoured.