Eight pallbearers who carried Queen Elizabeth II's coffin at her funeral are among those to be recognised in a special
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 carried the coffin as millions of people watched the funeral last September.
The eight pallbearers who carried the late Queen's coffin have been recognised by King Charles III in a special Royal honours list.
Typically, there are a minimum of four pallbearers, though six can also be used depending on the weight of the coffin. Pallbearers will either carry the coffin at waist height, on their shoulders, or wheel it in with the assistance of a small trolley, known as a wheel bier.
The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victoria Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral.
Queen Elizabeth's coffin bearers were specifically chosen to protect her body after her death. Soldiers from the Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, were chosen to lift the coffin during the service at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.
They were chosen alongside loyal royal household staff and members of the Metropolitan Police in recognition of their service to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The honours list also featured members of the RAF flight crew who transported the Queen's coffin from Scotland to London.
Pallbearers: regular pallbearers are family or friends of the person who has died. They're chosen by the family.
To Protect the Corpse from Being Stolen. Snatching dead bodies was common in many parts of England and Scotland in the early 1800s. Therefore, graves were always dug six feet deep to prevent body snatchers from gaining access to the buried remains.
In most instances, men are pallbearers, so it seems like the norm. However, there is no cultural or religious customs stating that women can't serve as pallbearers. The only reason why they don't do this job is that they may not be strong enough to lift the casket, which can sometimes be quite heavy.
There was nothing they could do, and Burnell-Williams was pronounced dead on the spot.
pallbearer. noun. pall·bear·er ˈpȯl-ˌbar-ər. -ˌber- : a person who helps to carry the coffin at a funeral.
The Queen's coffin (which was made thirty years ago) is thought to weigh anywhere between 250kg and 317kg, due to it being made from oak with brass fittings and lead lining – which is used to slow decomposition. This means an additional two pallbearers are needed to carry it.
Forces.net reports that the queen's casket, which was made 30 years ago and is constructed of English oak, weighs a quarter of a metric ton, or at least 550 pounds and perhaps as much as 700 pounds. The coffin's lead lining prevents decomposition, according to reports.
Shoulders should be level and facing the same direction as the hips. Turning by moving the feet is better than twisting and lifting at the same time. As you carry the coffin, keep your shoulders as even as possible, avoiding twisting your back. Keep the head up when carrying.
The Bearer Party, formed of personnel from The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards, transfer the coffin of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from The State Gun Carriage to the Royal hearse.
It is a common practice to cover the legs as there is swelling in the feet and shoes don't fit. As part of funeral care, the body is dressed and preserved, with the prime focus on the face. Post embalming, bodies are often placed without shoes; hence covering the legs is the way to offer a dignified funeral.
Caskets made from either metal or wood will take an average of 50 or more years to decompose underground. The casket's duration depends on the type of wood used to build it and the composition of chemicals found on the grave.
Coffins get tapered to conform to the shape of a human form. A coffin also has a removable lid while caskets have lids with hinges. Coffins are usually made out of wood and lined with cloth interiors. Unlike caskets, they do not have rails that make transportation easier.
Women should wear dark conservative clothes, which can be a modest dress, or pants or skirt suit set. Women should not wear high heels but opt for dark shoes with a flat or low heel as you will need to carry the coffin for some distance.
Siblings, adult children, grown grandchildren, nieces and nephews, close friends, and colleagues are all common choices for pallbearers. However, anyone can serve as a pallbearer.
It is important to remember that, when carrying a coffin or casket, the person inside is always carried feet first – the only exception is a vicar, who is carried head first to face their congregation. Coffins are carried feet first simply because of health and safety, rather than any kind of ceremonial tradition.
Her funeral last year culminated in a committal service and private burial at the King George VI Memorial Chapel (part of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle) in the evening. The Queen was buried alongside her mother, father and sister.
As a rule, four or six Pallbearers carry or escort a coffin at the funeral. As a rule, the people chosen to do this are usually very close family members and friends. Moreover, family and friends may ask to carry out this important funeral role. We will discuss this with you when making funeral arrangements.
Flanking the coffin were pall bearers, the escort party and the bearer party. The pall bearers were 10 former and serving Armed Forces equerries to Elizabeth II, who were at her side in uniform throughout her reign, supporting her at engagements and organising her public diary.