Former royal dry cleaner who now owns Newark business to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen's former dry cleaner is set to travel to London to pay respect to the late monarch.

Antony Pollard, owner of Dryclean Plus, Newark, will be travelling to the capital on Sunday­ to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state and attend her funeral on Monday.

He said: "I just liked her dignity, her manners and her style.

"She was the epitome of Britain."

Whilst now offering his skills in Newark, Antony previously worked for Mr Steed's dry cleaners in Clapham, who were contracted to dry clean for luxury brand Hermès.

He explained that the monarch, fond of her Hermès headscarves, had asked the brand who cleaned its clothing.

In the early 1990s, the company was awarded the royal contract and served the Queen and other members of the royal family.

Antony said: "She had all these Hermès headscarves, she wore them for racing.

"At first they didn't tell us whose they were, and then we were told they were being sent to Buckingham Palace.

"We used to see her on TV and say 'we cleaned that dress'."

Despite queues to visit the Queens coffin in Westminster Hall stretching for miles and wait times expected to reach 30 hours, he is looking forward to making the journey.

"You queue for hours for rides at Alton Towers anyway, and this is definitely a little more special," he added.

"It won't bother me, I am on my feet for eight hours a day at work.

"There seems to be a real atmosphere of friendship."

Antony will also watch the funeral procession on Monday, as the Queen's coffin travels to Westminster Abbey and then after the service, to Wellington Arch.

He will also be wearing a Union Jack suit for the visit.

"Being a dry cleaner I wanted to wear a good outfit," Antony said.

The royal contract is still held by the successor of Mr Steed, trained by Antony.