Jack Burnell-Williams dad posted footage of the Queen’s funeral saying he was ‘so proud’ of his son
A teenage soldier who guarded the Queen’s coffin during her funeral procession has been found dead at his barracks leaving his family “heartbroken”.
Jack Burnell-Williams, a Household Cavalry trooper and part of the Blues and Royals regiment, played a key role in the Queen’s send-off as one of the men who protected her coffin following her death on September 8.
The 18-year-old was found dead at Hyde Park Barracks in London’s Knightsbridge on Wednesday.
Police and paramedics are said to have raced to the based after the alarm was raised 3.48pm, MailOnline reports, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
Jack’s mother, Laura, revealed her son’s passing on Facebook, writing: “Never ever thought I would be saying this but we as a family are all heartbroken with the sudden passing of our wonderful son Jack Williams yesterday.”
Jack is believed to be one of the Household Cavalry’s newest recruits. He was one of the guards present during the Queen’s funeral procession when her coffin was pulled from Westminster Abbey, through Whitehall, down The Mall and past Buckingham Palace to Wellington Arch on September 19.
Household Cavalry soldiers on horseback followed behind King Charles, and other senior Royals including Prince William and Prince Harry as they walked behind the Queen’s coffin.
Jack’s father, Daniel Burnell, posted video footage and images of mounted soldiers from the Household Cavalry taking part in the procession at the time and wrote: “My son doing his duty for the Queen on her final journey. So proud of you Jak Williams xx very proud father xx,” he wrote.
Laura, 42, also posted a series of photographs of her son in uniform as he performed his duty at the Hyde Park barracks.
And she shared TV footage of her son taking part in the Trooping of the Colour as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, calling the occasion “one of the proudest days of my life”.
Tributes poured in after Jack’s death was announced.
His girlfriend Molly Holmes said on Laura’s Facebook page: “Forever going to miss you my love. Truly heartbroken.”
Jack’s sister Elisha wrote: “We will get through this together as a team. We need to do him just as proud as he’s done us. Family and friends will be setting off blue balloons in his memory 4pm tomorrow at Bryntirion Football Club in Bridgend, South Wales. “Please spread the word and join us in celebrating my boy’s life. Blue colours to be worn preferably and also blue balloons.”
Elisha said family and friends will be setting off blue balloons in his memory at Bryntirion Football Club in Bridgend in his memory at 4pm Saturday.
Related links:
- Queen’s cause of death revealed as extract of certificate published
- Pallbearer’s mum had no idea her son would be carrying Queen’s coffin
- Woman visits Queen’s coffin eight times in less than 24 hours
