A mum has told how she had no idea that her son would be carrying the Queen's coffin at her funeral and that she is "beyond proud" after first seeing him in photos during the rehearsals.
David Sanderson, 19, from Morpeth in Northumberland, was selected to be one of the eight soldiers from the Queen’s Company 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who bore the oak casket in both London and Windsor, reported ChronicleLive.
Millions of people around the world watched images of the funeral at Westminster Abbey last Monday and there was a particular emotion for David's family when they saw the coffin draped in the Royal Standard being brought into the church.
Mum Carolyn said: “I’m beyond proud. It has just been amazing. I still can’t believe it happened.
“We didn’t actually know anything because it was all private to the army. We were looking at some photographs of the rehearsal and my husband said it looked like our David.
“I looked and said ‘of course it is!’ It’s just wonderful. I think I’ve discovered a new emotion.
“We’re really upset about the Queen; I love the Royal family, I’m very much a royalist and it was an awful day when we heard she had passed. I had just stopped crying about the Queen and I started crying about David.”
Former King Edward VI School pupil David was positioned at the front on the right hand side of the casket.
His mum said she had only had the chance to speak to him briefly since the funeral.
The teenager joined the army three years ago, training at Harrogate and Catterick Garrison before joining up with the Grenadier Guards – the same regiment in which his late grandfather John Sanderson completed his national service.
The Queen had strong links to the regiment, the British Army’s most senior infantry division known for their distinctive red tunics and tall black bearskins.
Carolyn added: “He will never forget this. He looked after her from the very start to her last journey.
“Seeing him on the television going to Westminster Abbey was just amazing. I just lost it – that’s our David. They were all brilliant, I think it was perfect.”
Also praising David was Coun Glen Sanderson, the leader of Northumberland County Council – although the council boss quickly pointed out he was no relation.
“This has been a momentous week of sadness for our nation, the world and our county. Thank you to all the people, parish and town councils and churches for playing your part," Coun Sanderson said.
“I would also like to say a particular thanks to David Sanderson – no relative – a Morpethian who is a Grenadier Guard, and he was one of the pallbearers of her majesty's coffin.”
