Mother’s ‘pride’ at watching Grenadier Guard son carry Prince Philip’s coffin as the world watched his funeral – six years after he met Duke at parade
- Guardman Dan Coghlan helped carry Prince Philip’s coffin during his funeral
- His mother Dawn Monk took to Facebook to share her pride at guardsman’s role
- He also crossed paths with the Duke in 2015 when he visited Wellington Barracks
The mother of a Grenadier Guard has shared her pride after her son was chosen to be one of the pallbearers that carried Prince Philip’s coffin at his funeral on Saturday.
Dan Coghlan was one of the soldiers tasked with transporting the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin to a custom-built Land Rover that then carried the Duke to St George’s Chapel in Windsor ahead of his funeral service and burial.
Members of the Royal Marines then carried the coffin up to the West Steps of the chapel.
The Guardsman’s mother, Dawn Monk, took to Facebook to share a photo of her son carrying the coffin and shared her pride.
She said: ‘A very proud moment for this family, my son at Philip’s left shoulder. GDSM D Coghlan carrying the Prince’s coffin. RIP Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh.’
The guardsman previously crossed paths with the Duke in 2015 when Philip visited Wellington Barracks, where he was stationed.
A photo from the visit shows Philip sitting in the front row with Gdsm Coughlan stood in the back row.
The bearer Party found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards carry the coffin of HRH Prince Philip including Gdsm Dan Coghlan (circled)
Gdsm Dan Coughlan’s mother Dawn Monk took to Facebook to share a photo of her son carrying the coffin and shared her pride
Other photos show the guardsman taking part in Trooping the Colour and ‘passing out’ in 2014.
Gdsmn Coghlan was one of several soldiers tasked with transporting the Duke to his final resting place on Sunday.
Deputy Colonel Commandant of The Rifles Major General Rupert Jones, the son of Herbert ‘H’ Jones who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross by the Queen for his heroism during the Falklands War, was another pallbearer.
H Jones, as he was known to all his comrades, was killed as he led the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, into battle on the occupied British islands in the south Atlantic. He was mortally wounded by machine gun fire as he personally led the attack near Goose Green.
His son, Major General Jones, is a leading officer in The Rifles.
Philip, who served heroically in the Royal Navy during the Second World War was Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, one of 42 appointments he enjoyed in the British armed forces and the Commonwealth.
Lt Alec Heywood, a Grenadier Guard whose grandfather served at both the funeral of George VI and the Queen’s coronation, was in command of the bearer party carrying Prince Philip’s coffin.
Lt Alec Heywood led the unit from The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards as it moved the coffin from Windsor Castle’s private chapel to the inner hall before the start of the funeral procession.
The guardsman (sat in the back row) previously crossed paths with the Duke in 2015 when Philip visited Wellington Barracks, where he was stationed
Gdsm Coghlan and the other pallbearers carried the coffin onto the custom-built Land Rover
Royal Marines then carried it up the steps of the chapel before a one minute’s silence ahead of the service
As a third generation Grenadier Guard Lt Heywood’s family have a long history of service in the British Army. His grandfather captained The Queen’s Company at George VI’s funeral and the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s beloved Royal Marines accompanied his coffin on its final journey.
Commandant General Royal Marines Major General Matthew Holmes walked alongside the hearse during the procession.
Other pallbearers included Brigadier Ian Mortimer, Colonel of The Queen’s Royal Hussars, Lieutenant General Roland ‘Roly’ Walker, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and Brigadier James Roddis, Deputy Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, Master General of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), the regiment who helped Philip design his Land Rover hearse, also helped carry the coffin, as did Lieutenant General Sir James Hockenhull, Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps, and Group Captain Nick Worrall, Station Commander RAF Northolt Group.
Military duties began hours before the funeral at 3pm on Saturday afternoon, with Philip’s coffin – covered with his personal standard and surmounted with his sword, naval cap and a wreath of flowers – moved at 11am by a Bearer Party found by The Queen’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, from the private chapel to the inner hall of Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of the Duke of Edinburgh during his funeral
By 2.15pm, the service detachments recognising Philip’s special military relationships were in position in the Quadrangle, which was also lined by the Household Cavalry and The Foot Guards.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards, of which Philip was Colonel for 42 years, led the procession to St George’s Chapel.
They were followed by the Major General’s Party, and then the Service Chiefs, which included the Chief of the Air Staff, Naval Staff and Defence Staff.
Philip had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and while he gave up active service in 1951, he remained closely connected to it and other military elements throughout his public life.
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