Special honours list recognises those across Bucks, Beds, and Herts who served Queen Elizabeth II

A number of people have been recognised following the monarch's death last year

The pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin are among those on the list
Published 25th Mar 2023

Nine people across Bucks, Beds, and Herts have been given special honours for their role in the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

They include:

  • Abubakar Farooq, Royal Navy, from Bedfordshire
  • Sergeant Robert John O'Neil, Royal Air Force, from Buckinghamshire
  • Commander Nicola Cripps, Royal Navy, from Buckinghamshire
  • Nicholas Paul Reuter, Thames Valley Police, from Buckinghamshire
  • Oliver George Davis, Royal Navy, from Buckinghamshire
  • Corporal Conrad William Joseph Mepham-Stone, Royal Air Force, from Buckinghamshire
  • Lucy Clare D'Orsi, British Transport Police, from Hertfordshire
  • Jane Sophie Connors, Metropolitan Police, from Hertfordshire
  • David John Brennan, Royal Navy, from Hertfordshire

As well as people across the three counties, other including the pallbearers involved in the Queen's funeral and some of her royal household staff have been given special honours.

The late Queen's closest adviser, Angela Kelly, has been recognised by the King alongside other royal aides, and many who played important roles during her funeral.

Ms Kelly and other devoted royal household staff 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.

During lockdown, when the Queen isolated with a small group from her household dubbed "HMS Bubble", Ms Kelly was thought to be part of the team.

She once disclosed in an interview: "We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery."

The honours list also featured RAF flight crew who transported the Queen's coffin from Scotland to London, coffin bearers, senior managers from the household and Government, and the late Queen's stud groom Terry Pendry, who held the reins of the monarch's pony Emma as the funeral cortege entered Windsor Castle.

The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen's coffin have been awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of the important role they played at her funeral.

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 selected to be pallbearers from the King's Company (then Queen's), 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

The soldiers 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 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.

The cortege carrying the coffin of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II travels down Edinburgh's Royal Mile

Servicemen from the Royal Regiment of Scotland who helped carry the Queen's coffin at her lying-in-rest in Edinburgh are also among those recognised.

The chief steward of St Giles Cathedral and the Garrison Sergeant Major of Edinburgh Garrison also received honours under the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of their service to the Queen, as part of a special set of Demise awards.

After the death of the Queen at her Scottish residence in Balmoral on September 8, her coffin was transported to St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The Queen's lying-in-rest opened to members of the public for 24 hours, with thousands queueing the streets to pay their respects to the longest serving British monarch.

Members of the royal family also took part in a vigil to honour the Queen, with the King, Camilla, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex watching over the coffin.

The demand to see the Queen was so high that the queue had to be closed after noon.

Among the members of the bearer party to be made Members of the RVO were Lieutenant William Bird and Warrant Officer Scott Cox.

Warrant Officer Anthony Gibson, Scots Guards, Garrison Sergeant Major, Edinburgh Garrison, also made MVO for services at the lying-at-rest.

Queen Elizabeth II sits with Anna Wintour (second right) and Caroline Rush (left) and royal dressmaker Angela Kelly (right)

Bearers awarded the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) included Private Lyle Foot, Lance Corporal Ryan McAllister, Private Cameron McCabe, Private Kian Meikle, Corporal Robbie Morton, Private Ryan Ritchie, Private Tom Sinclair, Lance Corporal Jonathan Stevenson, Private Graeme Thomson and Private Peni Tubuna.

The Earl of Dalhousie, formerly the Lord Steward of the Royal Household is made a Knight Grand Cross of the RVO, while Dr Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, becomes Commander.

Those made Lieutenant of the RVO include Alexander Garty, for transport services and James Hynd, the Scottish Government's head of Cabinet.

Among new Members of the RVO are John Andrew, chief steward of St Giles' Cathedral and Superintendent Stewart Drummond of Police Scotland.

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 recognised were the Marquess of Cholmondeley, formerly Lord Great Chamberlain, Royal Household, who was made a Knight Grand Cross of the RVO, while former ladies-in-waiting to the Queen, Philippa de Pass and Jennifer Gordon Lennox, were made Dame Commanders.

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.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.