Pallbearers who carried the Queen’s coffin get a seat in Wimbledon’s prestigious Royal Box

The team of pallbearers who carried the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin visited Centre Court at Wimbledon yesterday and sat alongside the Royal Box.

The 11 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards were invited to the tennis tournament on Saturday.

The unit had a close connection with the late Queen, as the serving monarch she held the position of company commander and made a personal review of the company every decade.

Introducing the soldiers, presenter Clare Balding told Centre Court: ‘Alongside the Royal Box we are also particularly proud this year to welcome and thank the team of 11 members of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards who so nobly acted as pallbearers at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

‘And to the Ensign for the escort of Her Majesty’s procession in London who carried the Queen’s company colour, the Royal Standard of the regiment, for Her Majesty’s funeral in Windsor.’

 The unit had a close connection with the Queen – as the serving monarch she held the position of company commander and made a personal review of the company every decade

Members of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards – pallbearers at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (front row, left) are applauded by the Centre Court crowd Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Day 6

In March 2023, eight pallbearers who carried the Queen’s coffin were awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral.

The soldiers were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the late Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

Awards under the RVO are in the King’s gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.

Also in the Royal Box at Wimbledon on Saturday were four Lionesses, who won the European Women’s Championships in 2022.

England footballers Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Jill Scott and Fran Kirby were sat in the Royal Box, which is known for its celebrity guests, with the Princess of Wales visiting on Tuesday.

England cricketer Sam Curran and presenter and former England footballer Gary Lineker were also in the Royal Box.

The pallbearers’ presence in the royal box comes after Lance Sergeant Alex Turner, Lance Corporal Tony Flynn, Lance Sergeant Elias Orlowski, Guardsman Fletcher Cox, Guardsman James Patterson, Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths, Guardsman Luke Simpson, and Guardsman David Sanderson were named as recipients of honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

The work of the eight pallbearers was highlighted during the broadcast of the Queen’s funeral, with viewers describing themselves as holding their breath when the guardsmen had to carry the coffin up the steps to the West Door of St George’s Chapel. 

The youngest hero was Fletcher Cox, then 19, from Jersey, who finished ‘top of his class’ as a cadet aged just 15 where he was handed the highest accolade any young soldier can achieve on the Channel Islands – the Lieutenant-Governor’s medal – and gave a speech where he said his ‘sole ambition’ was to parade for the Queen.

Guardsman James Patterson is a keen bodybuilder – whose strength was useful as the soldiers carried the heavy lead lined coffin up the steep stairs of St George’s. 

The work of the eight pallbearers was highlighted during the broadcast of the Queen’s funeral, with viewers describing themselves as holding their breath when the guardsmen had to carry the coffin up the steps to the West Door of St George’s Chapel

Introducing the soldiers, presenter Clare Balding told Centre Court: ‘Alongside the Royal Box we are also particularly proud this year to welcome and thank the team of 11 members of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards who so nobly acted as pallbearers at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

Guardsman David Sanderson, then 19, is a British soldier who has served in the King’s Guard and lives in Morpeth, Northumberland.

Guardsman Luke Simpson, from Selston, Nottinghamshire, was praised by his former teachers at Ashfield School for his role in the funeral. 

Guardsman Fletcher Cox, then 19, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was one of eight chosen to carry the coffin of the longest-reigning monarch in British history – and also the youngest.

Lance Sergeant Jake Orlowski was in front of Fletcher Cox. He was a star of the London Guards before being transferred to the Grenadier Guards. 

Lance Sergeant Ryan Griffiths proudly shared a picture of himself carrying the Queen and praised by a friend who served with him in the Army. 

Lance Corporal Tony Flynn was next. He married his sweetheart Hayley in July and they live in Aldershot – the garrison town in Hampshire.

The band of brothers were expertly guided throughout by Company Sergeant Major Dean Jones, an instructor at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where Prince Harry trained to be an officer.