The eight pallbearers who heroically carried the Queen‘s 500lb lead-lined coffin included a teenage ‘underdog’ whose ‘sole ambition’ was to serve Elizabeth II, a bodybuilder bearer, a surf-mad soldier plus the Sandhurst teacher who led them, MailOnline can reveal in the present day.
The troopers have been praised for perfecting the duty on Her Majesty’s last and saddest journey whereas watched by billions across the globe as their households described their deep pleasure at what they did for ‘Queen and nation’.
However their most necessary job was carried out in personal, once they laid Her Majesty to relaxation along with her husband, father, mom and sister within the royal tomb at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, with a small viewers of simply the King and his shut relations on Monday night time.
In the present day MailOnline can identify the eight troopers from the first Battalion Grenadier Guards, who have been flown again from operational service in Iraq to participate in Monday’s funeral.
The youngest hero was Fletcher Cox, 19, from Jersey, who completed ‘high of his class’ as a cadet aged simply 15 the place he was handed the best accolade any younger soldier can obtain on the Channel Islands – the Lieutenant-Governor’s medal – and gave a speech the place he mentioned his ‘sole ambition’ was to parade for the Queen.
The band of brothers have been expertly guided all through by Firm Sergeant Main Dean Jones, an teacher at The Royal Navy Academy Sandhurst, the place Prince Harry educated to be an officer. Famously the Queen reviewed Harry when he was commissioned as an officer within the British Military in 2006 – with each unable to cover their grins.
Guardsman James Patterson: James is a eager bodybuilder – whose power was helpful on the rear of the coffin because the troopers carried the heavy lead lined coffin up the steep stairs
Guardsman David Sanderson: One of many Queen’s pallbearers, from Morpeth, Northumberland, whose household declared their pleasure for what he has executed for ‘Queen and nation’
Guardsman Luke Simpson: The soldier from Selston, Nottinghamshire, was praised by his former academics at Ashfield College for his function within the funeral
Guardsman Fletcher Cox: The youngest of the pallbearers was believed to be 19-year-old Fletcher Cox, a star former cadet from Jersey whose one ambition was to serve the Queen
Lance Sergeant Jake Orlowski: A star of the London Guards earlier than being transferred to the Grenadier Guards
Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths: A eager surfer when not serving his nation, had proudly shared an image of himself carrying the Queen
Lance Corporal Tony Flynn: He married in July and lives in Aldershot – the garrison city in Hampshire
Firm Sergeant Main Dean Jones (pictured left) was on the entrance of the coffin (proper), main the eight pallbearers in exemplary style
Pallbearer David Sanderson with dad and mom and brother. The 19-year-old left his dad and mom full of ‘indescribable pleasure’ as their son took on the ‘huge accountability’
Grenadier guardsman and pallbearer David Sanderson’s grandfather posing with the Queen in 1958
The Ministry of Defence declined to touch upon the names of the troopers in the present day.
The eight Grenadier Guards who bore the Queen’s coffin might be given certificates as an alternative of being made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs), regardless of requires the hand-picked pallbearers to win the accolades. Navy leaders, politicians and celebrities have all backed requires the Queen‘s faultless pallbearers to be made MBEs.
CSM Jones, a married father-of-one, led the bearer social gathering in Westminster Abbey and when the world held its breath once they rigorously carried the Queen up the steps of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Lance Sergeant Alex Turner: The soldier chosen to be on the entrance of the coffin
The tall warrant officer, resplendent in a ceremonial crimson tunic, walked forward of Her Majesty’s oak coffin which weighed over 500lb as a result of its lead lining. His workforce didn’t put a foot unsuitable as first they shouldered her coffin.
However the identification of the person who was behind the coffin and steadied it on the steps of St George’s remains to be unknown.
Guardsman Fletcher Cox, from the first Battalion Grenadier Guards, was considered one of eight chosen to hold the coffin of the longest-reigning monarch in British historical past – and likewise the youngest.
The 19-year-old from Jersey attended Grainville College on the Channel Island and joined the Military Cadet Forces [ACF] detachment on the faculty earlier than leaving aged 16 for army faculty.
Cox, a former Military cadet, fulfilled his childhood ambition by becoming a member of the Grenadier Guards. However he may scarcely have imagined he could be trusted to hold the Queen’s coffin.
Assistant Headteacher Jonathan Kellett spoke of the college’s pleasure at seeing a former pupil shouldering a momentous accountability – claiming the qualities displayed shone via early in Fletcher’s faculty profession.
Mr Kellett mentioned: ‘We’re immensely happy with Fletcher right here at Grainville, and what he is gone on to do. He was a terrific scholar for us and confirmed nice management qualities. It was a really proud second for us as a college.
‘Now we have a motto that we wish our college students to do their greatest and clearly he was doing his greatest in his chosen profession, which is to serve Queen and nation.’
Fletcher Cox was behind the coffin each in the course of the funeral and the procession of the Queen’s casket from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Corridor. He was awarded the Lieutenant-Governor’s medal in 2018 – the best honour a Jersey cadet may be given, leaving the Channel island at 16 to attend a army coaching school within the UK.
Guardsman James Patterson was throughout from Fletcher. James is a eager bodybuilder – whose power was helpful because the troopers carried the heavy lead lined coffin up the steep stairs of St George’s. His Fb web page reveals him in varied poses wowing pals along with his muscly body.
Serving alongside him included David Sanderson, a British soldier who has served within the King’s Guard and lives in Morpeth, Northumberland.
David attended King Edward Vl secondary faculty in Morpeth earlier than leaving at 16 to affix the Military Basis School in Harrogate.
By the point he was 17 he was stationed on the regimental headquarters of the Grenadier Guards at Wellington barracks, first becoming a member of the second battalion.
He then moved to the primary battalion, the Queen’s Division, like his late grandfather John.
The 19-year-old left his dad and mom full of ‘indescribable pleasure’ as their son took on the ‘huge accountability’.
However such David’s dedication to his solemn responsibility that he didn’t breathe a phrase that he had been chosen as a pallbearer to his dad and mom and youthful brother.
As an alternative, they solely discovered his involvement when images of the funeral rehearsals have been revealed by MailOnline.
His father, additionally David, 56, mentioned: ‘The dignity and composure all these younger males confirmed all through that service was wonderful and we’re discover it troublesome to place into phrases how proud we really feel of David.
‘It was an unbelievable honour to be chosen for that function, the enormity of it’s onerous to understand, however David has taken it in his stride and carried out his responsibility to perfection. It is good to listen to folks saying that they should obtain an honour however I do know that David will merely say “It was my responsibility” and he will not ask any greater than that.
‘In fact the truth that he’d been chosen was to not be shared with anybody, so he did not even inform us, he could not. We solely turned conscious of it after we noticed images of the rehearsal drills on Mailonline and I mentioned to my spouse “that appears like David.”
‘The day of the funeral confirmed every thing and it was onerous to consider you have been watching your individual son, a younger man of 19, with that giant accountability positioned on him. They could be younger males however they’re devoted, educated {and professional} they usually handled the event with out placing a step unsuitable.
“He’ll be again on depart earlier than his subsequent deployment and I am unable to wait to see him simply to inform how immensely proud he has made us.’
Mr Sanderson mentioned the Grenadiers have been in his son’s blood and ‘all he has ever needed to do’.
His proud grandfather Les Dixon, a retired police officer, added: ‘Myself and my daughter, son in legislation, and each considered one of our household are very happy with David and what he has achieved, for himself and our Nation’.
The thriller pallbearer: The officer on the rear who steadied the coffin with the Imperial State Crown resting on high into St. George’s Chapel
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort comply with behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it’s carried into St George’s Chapel
David was additionally a part of the guard of honour that welcomed Prince Philip to Windsor at his funeral in April 2021.
Lance Sergeant Jake Orlowski was in entrance of Fletcher Cox. The Lance Sergeant, a canine lover from the capital, was a star of the London Guards earlier than being transferred to the Grenadier Guards.
Lance Corporal Tony Flynn was subsequent. He married his sweetheart Hayley in July they usually dwell in Aldershot – the garrison city in Hampshire.
A good friend of his aunt tweeted his reward for LC Flynn, and mentioned: ‘What a faultless and completely honourable job they did for his or her Queen in the present day and a present of how nice we may be on the earth’s eye’.
Throughout from him was his comrade Luke Simpson, from Selston, Nottinghamshire, who was praised by his former academics at Ashfield College for his function within the funeral. Head instructor John Maher mentioned he took his place ‘centre stage on such a historic event’ and executed his duties ‘so professionally’.
A submit on Selston Soccer Membership’s Fb web page learn: ‘Respect to you Luke Simpson, flawless below strain with the entire world watching on. You could have executed your nation, village, household and pals proud!’
Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths, a eager surfer when not serving his nation, had proudly shared an image of himself carrying the Queen and praised by a good friend who served with him within the Military,
And eventually, on the entrance of the coffin was Lance Sergeant Alex Turner, who expertly steered the casket behind their Firm Sergeant Main Dean Jones.
Navy leaders, politicians and celebrities have backed requires the Queen’s faultless pallbearers to obtain medals.
Former head of the Military Lord Dannatt, MPs Dan Jarvis and Tobias Ellwood and SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton agreed that the troopers needs to be made Members of the British Empire (MBEs).
There’s a historic precedent for such an award because the Grenadiers who have been liable for bearing Sir Winston Churchill’s coffin in 1965 obtained the British Empire Medal (BEM).
On the time, the BEM was awarded to troopers holding the rank of warrant officer and under for meritorious service. Officers ranked lieutenant and better obtained the MBE. This distinction ended after a assessment in 1993.
Queen Elizabeth II’s casket arrives at Windsor’s St. George’s Chapel on Monday, following a service in Westminster Abbey
Pallbearers switch the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped within the Royal Commonplace, into the State Hearse at Wellington Arch in London
Lord Dannatt mentioned the MBE could be a becoming reward for the pallbearers who ‘embodied the professionalism of the Armed Forces’.
Mr Ellwood, head of the Commons defence committee, mentioned: ‘Their efficiency did the Queen and the nation proud.’ Mr Middleton, a former Particular Forces operative, mentioned they ‘deserved nothing lower than an MBE’.
Britain’s armed forces delivered a masterclass in ceremonial duties. 1000’s of troops paid a most becoming tribute to Her Majesty the Queen.
Additionally on the forefront of the procession have been the 148 sailors who accompanied the State Gun Carriage. The massed ranks of Royal Navy personnel marched arm in arm at 75 paces per minute, drawing the carriage ahead by ropes in a solemn custom courting again greater than a century.
The State Gun Carriage was first used at Queen Victoria’s funeral on February 2 1901. The 2-and-a-half tonne carriage subsequently appeared on the funerals of three monarchs, King Edward VII, King George V and King George VI, in addition to the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten.
Former equerries to the Queen marched alongside her hearse accompanied by members of the Honourable Corps of Gents at Arms and Yeomen of the Guard. The grand procession was fashioned of seven teams, every supported by a band. Mounties of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police led the primary group, adopted by representatives of the George Cross foundations of Malta, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and troops from Australia and New Zealand.
Present and former service chiefs additionally took half. One other former army officer, Tobias Ellwood MP, mentioned: ‘The size and splendour of our army, as we mentioned goodbye to our Queen, was nothing in need of excellent.’
Whereas 1,650 troops took half within the procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, an extra 1,000 lined the route via London and one other 1,000 carried out ceremonial and safety duties in Windsor.
In whole, 5,948 members of the Armed Forces deployed on Operation London Bridge – as plans for Her Majesty’s passing have been recognized – since her dying. And round 175 troops from Commonwealth nations additionally took half. The Queen’s Firm – from which the pallbearers have been drawn – was named after the late monarch and she or he was its honorary commander. Her Majesty additionally turned Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards earlier this yr, changing Prince Andrew.
As soon as she had been pushed by hearse to Windsor, there was one other symbolic act to acknowledge her affiliation with the Queen’s Firm. Moments earlier than she was entombed within the Royal Vault, King Charles III draped its colors over her coffin.
The Queen’s Firm is anticipated to be renamed within the King’s honour later this yr. He might also inherit his mom’s honorary colonelcy of the regiment.
