Mountie from Saskatchewan helped lead Queen’s funeral procession

At the very front of the Queen’s solemn funeral procession on Monday, watched by more than half the world, were five RCMP officers in their red serge.

Among them was Sgt. Maj. Scott Williamson, who serves as riding master for the RCMP. Williamson lives in Ottawa but was born and raised in Rocanville, north of Moosomin.

He said it’s a bit of a cliché that words can’t describe what it was like.

“But it is really hard to describe exactly what I was feeling, especially as we made our first left turn up the mall towards Buckingham Palace. That was really the first moment that you got to see the millions of people that were lining the street, Buckingham Palace in the foreground,” said Williamson.

“And knowing that we were charged with the mission of leading Her Majesty to her final resting place, it was indescribable. And I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you there were moments of that long walk, that procession, that I couldn’t help but think, ‘Wow, how did a small-town farm boy from Saskatchewan get to be in this position?’ ”

Williamson said it was incredibly humbling to represent the RCMP, Canada and especially Saskatchewan during the funeral.

The officers returned to Buckingham Palace after the Queen was transferred to another group at Windsor Castle. Then they had to wait for a bit for the roads to open up enough for them to get back to Windsor Castle, where they were staying.

The plans for the Queen’s funeral had been in the works for a long time. In fact, Williamson said that was one of the first files he was given when he became riding master.

At first, he said the Mounties had been planned to be riding horses of the Household Cavalry, which he thought was odd. So he made a request to change it so the RCMP would be riding the Musical Ride horses they had gifted to the Queen previously.

“That went up to the Queen and of course Her Majesty approved of that,” said Williamson.

The horses they rode were the same horses members of the Royal Family have ridden while trooping the colour.

Because of his rank, Williamson was required to participate in the procession, but he said he didn’t know how prominent he and his officers would be until they got there.

“Once we landed in London, it wasn’t until 24 hours later that we participated in the rehearsal that we were advised that, by Her Majesty’s request, that we would be leading the entire procession,” explained Williamson.

Williamson called it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“I don’t think it’s even sunk in yet,” he said.