Brigadier who helped carry Queen’s coffin was at a marriage in Corfu
An early precedence was monitoring down sure key gamers for the funeral, not least the bearer get together.
It was not merely a case of choosing eight sturdy troopers to hold the Queen’s coffin.
The monarch’s bearer get together is, by lengthy custom, drawn from Queen’s Company, Grenadier Guards, which at all times maintains a chosen group.
But the place had been they? On patrol with Kurdish trainees in Iraq, it transpired. Where had been the state trumpeters?
‘There are at all times alleged to be 4 state trumpeters within the nation at anybody time,’ says Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes.
‘For some cause, it turned out that every one eight had been on a airplane to Canada for a tour with the Household Cavalry Band. We advised all of them, together with the band, to show straight spherical and are available again.’
Soon, everywhere in the world, different members of the Armed Forces had been making tracks. The Band of the Irish Guards had been swiftly summoned dwelling from a tour of Holland.
The monarch’s bearer get together is, by lengthy custom, drawn from Queen’s Company, Grenadier Guards, which at all times maintains a chosen group
Brigadier James Stopford, a member of the sovereign’s ceremonial bodyguard, was in Corfu on the marriage ceremony of his daughter, Izzie
Queen Elizabeth II talks with Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew throughout a navy parade
Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes mentioned there was at all times alleged to be 4 state trumpeters within the nation at anybody time
One Life Guards officer needed to lower quick his honeymoon. Brigadier James Stopford, a member of the sovereign’s ceremonial bodyguard, was in Corfu on the marriage ceremony of his daughter, Izzie.
He was on his toes delivering his father-of-the-bride speech when the incessant vibrations on his cell phone alerted him to an pressing message: ‘You are commanded to return to the United Kingdom instantly to take care of your duties for Her Late Majesty’s Funeral.’
He concluded his speech with toasts to the bride and groom, to the late Queen and to the King, earlier than taking the subsequent airplane dwelling.
As for the bearers, as quickly as they arrived dwelling from Iraq, they got two orders: ‘get a haircut’ and ‘carry a comb always’.
Based in Aldershot, they instantly started coaching with a makeshift catafalque and a bedsheet, which served as a duplicate Royal Standard for draping over their makeshift coffin.
After changing into sudden stars of the funeral procession, they weren’t even allowed a spell of home-leave.
They had been on the subsequent out there plane again to Iraq. However, the next summer time, The All England Club and the Garrison Sergeant Major organized for all of them to be company of honour at Wimbledon.
© Robert Hardman, 2024
- Adapted from Charles III New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, revealed by Macmillan on January 18 at £22. To order a duplicate for £17.60 (supply legitimate till 29/02/2024; UK p&p free on orders over £25) go to mailshop. co.uk/books or name 020 3176 2937.
