A 23-YEAR-old Royal Navy Engineering Technician is being honoured for the role he played in the Queen’s state funeral.

Alun Christopher Hughes, who was in the Queen’s Gun Carriage Crew for the late monarch, has been awarded The Royal Victorian Medal (Silver).

The serviceman, from Prestatyn, found out the news through a meeting with the captain of the naval based HMS Raleigh, the largest Royal Navy training establishment in the South West.

He also received a letter which stated he was being awarded the prestigious honour at His Royal Highness, The King’s, request at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Hughes, who has been in the Armed Forces since February 2022, said: “I felt very excited [when I found out] and felt happy about sharing the honour with the other sailors that had been through this with me

“It means a great deal to me. It will be my first medal. I shall receive it at such an early stage of my career and it means a lot making my family proud.”

Alun Hughes has been in the Armed Forces since February 2022

Alun Hughes has been in the Armed Forces since February 2022

The Queen had a long-standing special relationship with the Royal Navy.

King Charles bestowed the rare set of honours ahead of his coronation on May 6.

In the letter to Mr Hughes it is stated that the award is a "personal gift" from His Majesty in recognition of Mr Hughes's "outstanding" contribution as a member of the State Field Gun Carriage Crew. 

Mr Hughes was selected for the Gun Carriage Crew on his –birthday.

"It wasn't how I thought I'd be celebrating it," Mr Hughes said.

"After being briefed on the role, it was clear we were in the limelight for Her Majesty's funeral, having to walk through the many streets of London.

"Training consisted of 10 days on intense marching and rehearsing to execute our final service to Her Majesty the Queen.

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"On the day, I remember seeing thousands of people standing on the streets of London and news cameras being pointed at us from all angles.

"A humbling moment was watching the coffin being attached to the gun carriage after the service at Westminster abbey. At that moment, you could really appreciate how important this day was to the Queen's family and also to the world"

Mr Hughes said he felt "very nervous" ahead of the day.

 

"The training, however, that we endured meant that we all had each other and were in the same boat - excuse the pun - so that made me feel more at ease," he added.

Mr Hughes was one of 144 sailors pulling the Gun Carriage on September 19 2022.

Mr Hughes said: "Previous to this I had never met the Queen or come into contact with any of the royal family.

"I was selected for this role purely by my height and the condition of my number 1s suit.

Alun was positioned fifth row back, third from the right

Alun was positioned fifth row back, third from the right

"At the time I was based at HMS Collingwood which was the training establishment for the state funeral.

"During the march it was important to stay focused, keep professional and stay in step with the gun carriage crew."

Mr Hughes is not yet sure on the date he will receive his medal at Buckingham Palace - it has not yet been disclosed.

"I am hopeful that it will happen this year and I will be taking my immediate family," he said.

"My feelings ahead of the presentation are mostly nerves as this is my biggest honour to date."