Two weeks after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8, one of the soldiers who attended her coffin throughout the day on Monday September 19 was found dead at the age of 18. He was one of the Household Cavalry’s youngest recruits.
A broken family. A young security guard named Jack Burnell-Williams, aged 18, was found dead at his barracks in Hyde Park, in the Knightsbridge area of London, at around 3:48pm this Wednesday, September 28. The victim, who was part of the Blues and Royals regiment, followed the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II on horseback during her funeral procession on Monday September 19, 2022.
British police say the death of Jack Burnell-William, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was not suspicious. “The death was unexpected, it was investigated and is not considered suspicious. Officers will help prepare a report for the coroner,” police told The Mirror.
A rain of tributes on Facebook
Shocked by the disappearance of one of their own, Jack Burnell-William’s family were quick to take to social media to pay tribute to the 18-year-old security guard.
His mother Laura said she was devastated by the news of her son’s death. “I never thought I would say this but our family is heartbroken at the sudden death of our beautiful son Jak Williams yesterday,” she wrote.
On the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, Jack Burnell-William’s father Don released a video of his son saying he was proud that the soldier was “on duty for the Queen on her final journey”.
His aunt Jayney also posted a tribute to her nephew, saying: “Words cannot express what our family is going through. Sadly, Jak Williams, the first son of my brother Dan, my beautiful nephew, was taken away from us.”
Molly Holmes, Jack’s friend, also shared her feelings. “We will miss you forever my love. I’m really heartbroken.