Tearful grandparents reunited with grandkids after 18 months

Emotional grandparents embraced their grandkids after more than a year of separation as travel rules eased this morning.

As of 4am today double vaccinated travellers from the US and amber list EU countries can travel to the UK without quarantining.

The change means people with family in the UK who couldn’t afford the costs or isolation time upon arrival can now make the trip.

The scenes in British airports were emotional this morning as people embraced their dearly missed loved ones for the first time since early 2020.

Michael and Su Blake were among those who hugged their grandchildren and their parents as their fully-vaccinated family flew into London Heathrow from New York this morning.

Gemma Appleton, who lives in Los Angeles, is looking forward to making the trip with her wife and young baby so he can meet his grandparents for the first time.

“The minute I heard the announcement I just burst into to tears, we have been waiting for this,” Gemma told the BBC.

She added: “The minute that we land I just know that I am going to run into M&S and buy a cheese and pickle sandwich.

“It’s the first thing that I am going to do, I have been craving that for a while now, and then I am going to hug my parents.”