The family of a teenage soldier who escorted Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin during her funeral have reportedly claimed that he died by suicide.
Jack Burnell-Williams was pronounced dead after being found at London’s Hyde Park Barracks less than two weeks after he walked in the late queen’s September 2022 funeral procession at the same venue. He was 18 years old.
More than three years later, a report by the Daily Mail, published on Sunday, January 11, claimed that Victoria Sedgwick, the lawyer of Jack’s mother, Laura Williams, is claiming that “those close to the family are sure [Jack] took his own life.”
Sedgwick also reportedly noted to the outlet on Saturday, January 10, that she was calling on the British Army to “better look after” the mental health of young recruits. “My client’s main priority is to fully understand what happened and, if appropriate, for changes to be made so that other families will not have to endure what she has been through,” Sedgwick said.
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Reporting by The Guardian in October 2022 stated that the teenager had served with the Household Cavalry and “walked with the Queen’s coffin from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch during her state funeral” on September 19 that year.
A British Army spokesperson told The Guardian, “It is with sadness that we can confirm the death of Trooper Jack Burnell-Williams on 28 September 2022 at Hyde Park Barracks. Our thoughts are with the soldier’s family and friends at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy is respected.”
Jack Burnell-Williams Jak Williams/Facebook
Additional reporting by People at the time stated that the Metropolitan Police said that while Jack’s death was “unexpected,” it was not treated as suspicious. “Officers will assist with preparing a report for the coroner,” the People report noted.
Laura reportedly shared a public message that addressed her son’s death via Facebook one day later. “Never ever thought I would be saying this but we as a family are all heartbroken with the sudden passing of our wonderful son Jak Williams yesterday,” a report by The Independent reflected upon locating the Facebook post. (Jack’s family seemingly referred to him as Jak.)
In the days leading up to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, Jack’s father, Dan Burnell, shared a Facebook post that praised his son’s involvement in the proceedings. “My son doing his duty for the queen on her final journey, so proud of you Jak Williams xx very proud father xx,” the post read.
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The Daily Mail’s new report stated that a December 2025 review hearing resulted in the February scheduling of a “full inquest into the death.”
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The outlet also reported that an Army spokesperson “confirmed its own investigations would be published on the government’s website” once the inquest was completed.
Queen Elizabeth II was buried on the grounds at the King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died at age 99 in April 2021. The late monarch died at age 96 on September 8, 2022.
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