The central part the Royal Navy played in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was praised by the Princess Royal when she visited Portsmouth Naval Base this week.
Princess Anne spoke to some of the hundreds of serving men and women who had helped the state funeral run smoothly, just three days after the impressive occasion in London and Windsor on September 19.
More than 130 sailors from HMS Collingwood in Fareham pulled or escorted the historic gun carriage bearing the Queen’s coffin through central London. The Royal Marines Band played music in the procession and other members of the service lined the streets.
The Princess is Commodore-in-Chief of the naval base and Chief Commandant for Women in the Royal Navy.
