A former member of the Royal Horse Guards, who led Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation procession, has said he failed to realize the significance of his duty until after it was over.
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Tony Hendry, 93, of Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry, who served as a corporal, led the procession to Westminster Abbey.
“At the time I didn’t really think about it, but when you look back, I think it was quite an honour,” he said.
He added he would “never forget the roar of the crowd”.
“We led the Coronation which means I was a mile and a half in front of the Queen,” he explained.
He then described waiting for the procession to start alongside three other troopers from the Blues and Royals regiment, with their “distinctive tunics and red plumed helmets”.
“With no personal radios, orders were issued via speakers strung along the trees in Park Lane,” he explained.
“They gave some instruction to start and the band behind us went ‘bang’.”
He added the noise frightened another corporal’s horse.
“He lost his helmet and a bobby rushed forward, picked it up and gave it to him before the Coronation procession could start,” he said.
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