BBC star Douglas Henshall faces huge backlash over conspiracy the Queen’s coffin is empty

He said it was a genuine question

Actor Douglas Henshall has come under fire after claiming the Queen's coffin is actually empty. The Glaswegian star, who is best known for playing DI Perez in BBC drama Shetland, took to social media to share his controversial belief. Henshall, 56, wrote: "Do you think the queue would be so long if people knew that the Queen isn’t in that coffin? Or do they know and it’s just symbolic?" [caption id="attachment_359418" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Douglas Henshall in Shetland (Image: BBC)[/caption] The Tweet has racked up thousands of comments since it was posted on Friday, with some branding it "horrible" and "offensive". Meanwhile, others have supported the actor and said they too don't think the late monarch's body is actually in the coffin either. Henshall has since insisted it was a "genuine question" and that he was concerned about the security risk involved. https://twitter.com/djhenshall/status/1570686517290627072?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Responding to one critic's claim that it was a "nasty" Tweet, Henshall wrote: "It’s not nasty or vile, and I’m not undermining anyone. I simply asked a question. Jesus. Enjoy your retirement." Mourners have spent up to 14 hours queueing to see the Queen's lying-in-state at Westminster Hall, including the likes of David Beckham and Susanna Reid. Doors will finally close to the public at 5.30am on Monday, ahead of the Queen's funeral. [caption id="attachment_359235" align="alignnone" width="2048"] The Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall, London (Image: Getty)[/caption] The Coffin will be taken in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the state funeral service will begin at around 11am. Up to one million mourners expected to gather in the palace area of London. Related links:

• Man charged after mourner grabbed the Queen's coffin
• This Morning forced to issue statement on Holly and Phillip queue jumping
• Prince Harry left 'heartbroken' after 'ER' initials stripped from military uniform
• Prince Andrew's return to public life condemned by Jeffrey Epstein victims