King Charles Honours Royal Navy Personnel Involved in Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral Procession
King Charles III has honoured Royal Navy personnel who played a key role in Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession, including a heavily pregnant sailor. The monarch presented 150 Royal Naval personnel with Royal Victorian Order honours for their part in the historic event or planning the Navy’s involvement. The ceremony was held at Windsor Castle, where the sailors and officers were recognised for pulling the state gun carriage bearing the late Queen’s coffin or marching behind it.
Pregnant Sailor Among the Royal Navy Personnel Honoured
Medical Assistant Paisley Chambers-Smith, who is seven months pregnant, stood proudly in the front rank as one of the honourees. She was one of 98 naval ratings who pulled the state gun carriage carrying the late Queen’s coffin. Chambers-Smith was awarded an RVO silver medal and was present at the ceremony in a blue summer dress since there is no Royal Navy ceremonial maternity wear. She has expressed her gratitude and pride in taking part in the historic occasion alongside her colleagues.
The Ceremony at Windsor Castle
The open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle took place on Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, where the Royal Victorian Order honours were presented to the Royal Navy personnel for their valuable contributions during the Queen’s funeral procession. King Charles presented these honours on a sunny and pleasant day alongside the Band of the Royal Marines. The honourees stood in line in the Castle quadrangle.
The Role of the Royal Navy in Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral Procession
Last year in September, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession took place, and the Royal Navy played a significant role. During the procession, almost 100 Royal Naval Ratings, known as Sovereign’s Guard, pulled the gun carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin as it was borne from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in the capital. Another 40 ratings marched behind, acting as a break. The striking sight of the sailors in their distinctive blue and white collars and white caps, marching in unison, was one of the defining images of the day the late Queen was laid to rest.
Royal Victorian Order Honours
The honours received by the Royal Navy personnel are in the King’s personal gift and awarded independently of Downing Street. These are Royal Victorian Order honours, which are bestowed upon individuals for their valuable services to the royal family. The monarch awarded silver RVO medals and higher RVO honours to the personnel, which show recognition of their service.
Interview with Medical Assistant Paisley Chambers-Smith
On receiving the medal, Chambers-Smith expressed her pride and honour in taking part in the occasion. She said, “It’s not something I imagined doing so soon in my career. The training was so hard but worth it, and on the day, it was a massive honour to be there”. The medical assistant also shared her brief chat with the King, where he expressed his concern about the training and also asked the due date for her baby.
The Cost of the UK Government
The late Queen’s funeral and the preceding lying-in-state cost the UK Government an estimated £161.7 million. The largest cost was reported by the Home Office at £73.7 million, followed by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) at £57.4 million, while Ministry of Defence costs came to £2.9 million.
Royal Family’s Favourites and Their Holiday Destinations
The Royal Family has a predictable choice of destinations when it comes to their holiday plans. They usually visit the same places year after year. For instance, the late Queen would famously escape to the Scottish Highlands for her summer break to spend time with her family, dogs and horses. The quiet island of Tresco in the Scillies is another royal favourite. Prince William, who visited as a child, now takes his own family there.
Royal Tours and Their Variety
Unlike their predictable holiday destinations, Royal tours are usually full of variety. They are rarely short of exciting activities, despite Princess Diana once describing them as ‘gruelling’. Royal tours often include a mix of formal engagements, charity events, and cultural activities. Whether it’s speaking German at a Berlin banquet, wearing grass skirts in the Pacific or trying out traditional Caribbean dance moves, there is always something interesting to do on a Royal tour.
When Royal Engagements Get Embarrassing
Royal engagements can sometimes go wrong or become embarrassing. A video of Prince William and Kate Middleton from their first official visit to Australia and New Zealand in 2014 recently resurfaced on social media. The footage shows the royal couple trying to unveil a memorial plaque and failing repeatedly, causing them and other members of their delegation to laugh.
Conclusion
King Charles III honoured 150 Royal Navy personnel for their participation in Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession. Medical Assistant Paisley Chambers-Smith, who is seven months pregnant, was among the honourees and expressed her pride and gratitude in taking part in such a historic event. The Royal Victorian Order honours are the King’s personal gift, given to individuals for their valuable services to the royal family. Royal tours are often full of variety, while the Royal Family tends to favour traditional holiday destinations. And finally, Royal engagements can sometimes go wrong and become embarrassing, but they always make for entertaining viewing.
FAQs
What are Royal Victorian Order honours?
The Royal Victorian Order honours are bestowed upon individuals for their valuable services to the royal family. They are in the King’s personal gift and given independently of Downing Street.
What is the cost of the UK Government for the Queen’s funeral?
The funeral and the preceding lying-in-state cost the UK Government an estimated £161.7 million, with the Home Office being the largest contributor at £73.7 million.
What are the favourite holiday destinations of the Royal Family?
The Royal Family favours predictable holiday destinations such as the Scottish Highlands, where the late Queen would escape for her summer breaks, or the quiet island of Tresco in the Scillies, which is a favourite of Prince William and his family.
What are Royal tours usually like?
Royal tours are often full of variety, including formal engagements, charity events, and cultural activities, such as wearing grass skirts in the Pacific or trying out traditional Caribbean dance moves.
Do Royal engagements sometimes go wrong?
Yes, Royal engagements can sometimes go wrong and become embarrassing, such as the video from Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first official visit to Australia and New Zealand in 2014, where they repeatedly failed to unveil a memorial plaque.