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Sussex armed forces and members of royal household recognised in honours list

Three Royal Navy workers from Sussex have been recognised in a special honours list for their role at the late Queen's funeral last year <i>(Image: Ministry of Defence)</i>
Three Royal Navy workers from Sussex have been recognised in a special honours list for their role at the late Queen's funeral last year (Image: Ministry of Defence)

Former members of the late Queen’s household and people involved in her state funeral have been recognised in a special honours list.

Six people from across Sussex, including Queen Elizabeth II’s former diary secretary, have been honoured by King Charles for the role they played during the period of national mourning.

The Queen, the longest-serving monarch in British history, died at Balmoral last September, at the age of 96.

Her former diary secretary, Helen Cross, was made a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVO) in the “Demise Honours”, along with Jennifer Lennox and Phillipa de Pass - the Queen’s former ladies in waiting, who accompanied her on public engagements and helped her complete tasks.


Full list of Sussex honours in Demise Honours list

  • Helen Andrea Louise Cross

  • Philippa de Pass

  • Jennifer Susan Gordon Lennox

  • Laurynas Berenis

  • Jordan William Shepherd

  • Ewan Alexander Thomas


Also honoured by the King in the list are three Sussex armed forces workers for their work at the late Queen’s funeral.

Engineering technician Laurynas Berenis, able seaman diver Jordan Shepherd, and leading engineering technician Ewan Thomas were recognised for their role in helping with the State Field Gun Carriage, which was used to bear the coffin of Her Late Majesty during the funeral procession.

All three, who are members of the Royal Navy, will receive the silver Royal Victorian Medal.


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The honours list also recognised the late Queen’s closest adviser, Angela Kelly, as well RAF flight crew who transported the Queen’s coffin from Scotland to London and senior managers from the royal household and government.

The eight pallbearers who carried the Queen’s coffin at the funeral were also awarded the silver Royal Victorian Medal.

Viewers described themselves as holding their breath when the guardsmen had to carry the coffin up the steps to the West Door of St George’s Chapel.

Conservative MP Tom Hunt said at the time: “I can’t imagine how hard and emotionally challenging it must have been to have carried Her Late Majesty’s coffin just once.

“They’ve done it time and time again this week, with billions watching. They’ve done Her Late Majesty and the country proud.”