Mourners have gathered to honour a female soldier who died after being thrown to her death from a horse just moments after performing in front of King Charles.
Family and friends watched as the coffin of Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, who was in the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, arrived for her funeral at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, in central London this afternoon.
The 24-year-old was fatally injured on the evening of Friday, May 15, shortly after leaving the arena following the performance, which was witnessed by the King and other members of the Royal Family.
She was allegedly thrown from her horse before being dragged under a heavy gun carriage – sparking calls for the Royal Windsor Horse Show to review its safety procedures.
Ms Sullivan, known informally as ‘Sully’ and described by her commanding officer as a ‘fearless and gifted horsewoman’, is understood to have been in the back row, closest to the carriage, when the tragedy occurred.
Her funeral this afternoon saw crowds of mourners gather to pay their respects to the young woman, whose coffin was draped in a Union Jack flag.
Members of the Royal Horse Artillery attended the service, alongside hundreds of others who wished to honour the Army rider.
Friends and family previously paid tribute to the ‘beautiful soul’ who ‘passed away doing what she loved’.
The coffin of Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan is carried from the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, in central London this afternoon following her funeral
Members of the Royal Horse Artillery watch as Ms Sullivan’s coffin is carried from the Guards Chapel
Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, 24, (pictured) died after falling from her horse shortly after leaving the arena following a performance for King Charles
The coffin was rested on a gun carriage outside the chapel earlier today
A flower display reading ‘Sully’ at the young woman’s funeral this afternoon
Ms Sullivan’s father Pat shared a picture of her on social media alongside a message, which read: ‘The honour. The service. They will never be forgotten.’
Her mother Wendy responded to a deluge of online tributes, writing: ‘Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to write this. She was doing what she loved.’
Thames Valley Police previously said the death is unexplained but non-suspicious.
Ms Sullivan’s commanding officer said: ‘Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, “Sully” to her friends, was to all who had the privilege of serving alongside her, a bright light in any room she entered.
‘An immensely professional soldier and an exceptional jockey, she approached every day within The Troop with an infectious energy – the kind that lifted those around her without effort or intention – and was unfailingly present for her comrades in both the small moments and the hard ones.
‘An outstanding soldier and a role model to many she worked with. She was fearless and gifted horsewoman, having ridden since childhood and having competed in the showjumping ring before joining the regiment.
‘It was this natural courage that made her always the first to volunteer to ride the most demanding of horses.
‘Beyond her equestrian talent, she was a soldier of remarkable breadth. A skilled footballer, a dedicated presence in the gym who pushed herself and quietly brought others along with her, and someone who found cause to celebrate the smallest daily victories in those she served with.
The 24-year-old’s coffin was draped in a Union Jack flag for the service this afternoon
Family and friends watch as the coffin of Ms Sullivan is carried from the Guards Chapel
People gather to pay their respects to the young woman, whose coffin was draped in a Union Jack flag
Members of the Royal Horse Artillery attend the service, alongside others to honour the Army rider
Two women comfort each other as they hold umbrellas while attending the service today
Crowds of mourners gather to honour the young Army rider after her death earlier this month
The service was filled with mourners who came to grieve and remember the female soldier
A queue of mourners are seen outside the service for Ms Sullivan earlier today
A photo of Lance Bombardier Ms Sullivan ahead of her funeral at the Guards Chapel today
‘A natural leader and instructor, she won the respect of all who had the privilege of working with her, and her patient coaching has helped many Mounted Gunners within the Unit fulfil their potential.
‘The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery has lost not only an accomplished soldier and horsewoman, but the kind of person who made the regiment, and the world, a better place simply by being part of it.
‘The thoughts of every member of The Troop and The Gunners are with her family at this tragic time.’
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the King was ‘greatly shocked and saddened’ to learn of her death, adding that he ‘will be in touch with the family to share his personal condolences’.
The spokesperson added: ‘While His Majesty and other Members of The Royal Family were present at the arena at the time the incident took place, they were not made aware of the severity of the situation until later.
‘The thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies of the whole Royal Family are with the victim’s loved ones and military colleagues at this time of grief.’
Ms Sullivan was a model soldier, once appearing on the podcast of official veterans’ charity, the Army Benevolent Fund, to discuss her Army apprenticeship as an equine groom for the King’s Troop.
Members of the ceremonial unit are trained to ride and care for horses, fire salutes, take part in parades, pull gun carriages and assist the King’s Life Guard at Horse Guards in London.
Ms Sullivan joined the Army in November 2020, attending the Army Training Centre in Pirbright before joining The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in June 2021.
She ‘loved’ horses and had a ‘natural affinity’ for them.
