Queen's Birthday Honours: Portsmouth soldier honoured for his role in funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh

By Tom Cotterill
Published 11th Jun 2021, 22:30 BST
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A SOLDIER who came off paternity leave voluntarily to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral has been honoured by the Queen for his dedication.

New father Lance Sergeant Joshua Andrews, of Portsmouth rushed into action to carry out the funeral duty just days after the birth of his third child, Luella.

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He was one of the soldiers of the Grenadier Guards coffin bearer party who carried Prince Philip’s casket during the funeral at Windsor Castle in April – in a ceremony that was broadcast across the globe.

Joshua, 29, is now to receive the Victoria Medal for his efforts, having been personally selected by Her Majesty as part of a rare set of awards honouring what would have been her late husband’s 100th birthday this week.

Lance Sergeant Joshua Andrews, 29, of Portsmouth, has been honoured by the Queen for his involvement in the funeral of her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo: British ArmyLance Sergeant Joshua Andrews, 29, of Portsmouth, has been honoured by the Queen for his involvement in the funeral of her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo: British Army
Lance Sergeant Joshua Andrews, 29, of Portsmouth, has been honoured by the Queen for his involvement in the funeral of her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo: British Army

‘Being in The Queen’s Company for as long as I have, it meant the world that I had the honour to lift and carry Her Majesty’s husband,’ said Joshua. ‘It is something that will go down in history and my little girls will grow up knowing that their dad was a part of it.’

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Related topics:Queen's Birthday HonoursPortsmouthDuke of EdinburghQueen

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