How do they decide which lads get to be the Queen’s coffin bearers?

[Wenwes]

Such responsibility, and they all looked so young.

It does weigh a huge amount. It's some task.

Generally the CoC know who their fittest and best soldiers are. After all they write a report on you every year like a end of term school report with grades and all 🤣

CoC= Chain of Command.

The lads in Edinburgh had buttons on their shoulders (style of uniform) so extra pressure on their skin from that.

I'm so amazingly proud of them all. What a responsibly.

They all looked so young and strong and handsome! What a cracking job they did. As a pp said, a couple of them looked a tad nervous, but who wouldn't? Imagine having the responsibility of carrying the Queen in her coffin on your shoulders? Literally!

I could never have done that. They were brilliant.

No idea who decided btw!

So the ones with no ranks will be young, lack of medals is usually a good sign of how young they are given we've just had the Jubilee Medal presented which is for serving 5 years as at Feb 22, so if they are wearing none and the average age of the infantry joining up is generally 18/19 then it's safe to assume they are under 25.

The ones with 2 or 3 stripes are probably between 8 and 12yrs service going by average promotion in the Guards.

Having a medical? Not sure why, we are assessed for fitness all the time. Those who are carrying any form of injury would not have been in the running for selection.

They have been handed a tremendous honour and they should be so proud of themselves.

What an absolute honour for them to have been ?selected to carry Her Majesty's coffin. They will treasure that for the rest of their lives as will every other member of the services who have played pivotal roles in the processions and placements.

They were bloody amazing. Everyone in the parade was. Unbelievable. I actually said out loud to myself ‘great job! Well done!!’

Why couldn't eight women have done it - I'm sure there are plenty of capable ones in the armed forces?

Are you taking the actual piss?

@Maireas Thanks.

You could see the sweat dripping off their foreheads. I'd say not one of them was over 25 years old. They did a fantastic job!

Bless them. I felt so much compassion for them. So young, and such a huge weight on their shoulders - I mean metaphorically, but obviously literally too!
The thing is that I'm actually a very committed pacifist, and totally opposed to militarism! But can still feel compassion and admiration for individuals in the forces. I'm not a royalist either; but must admit I've been in awe of the theatre of it all these last few days...

There's always one. 🙄

There aren't many 6ft+ women in the guards....

In Scotland I noticed they marched on opposite ‘legs’ when carrying the coffin and I presumed it was to give a smoother ride. But they didn’t in London.

Any military experts know the rationale?

They did such a fantastic job. Particularly as they were clearly extremely hot and dehydrated after wearing the bearskins. What an immense responsibility- navigating stairs and balancing a v heavy coffin, all under the scrutiny of millions of people and the new Monarch. They were just brilliant and did us proud.

I think I heard the one at the back (not a bearer) saying “in…out…in…out” as in “inside leg…outside leg…inside leg…”

The whole thing was utterly mesmerising and so so impressive.

I’m not a particular fan of the monarchy either, but I’ve found the events of the past week very moving. And all the ceremonial aspects have been done so beautifully. Those lads today should indeed be proud of themselves.

I also thought it looked very uncomfortable marching at 'reverse arms', having to hold your left arm behind your back all the time. It's not a natural position to be in and it must have been nearly for nearly an hour.

I was referring to the other soldiers obviously, not the bearers.

I think there are very few jobs where sexual equality isn't a good thing, but I'd say carrying a very heavy coffin might be one of them. Of course, if there is a serving women who is the right height and strength then she should have the same chance of selection as the lads.

🤦‍♀️

Just think for 1 second, no, half a second, and try again....

As @Cocoaone said, they picked the 8 tallest.

Please try and find 8 6ft women, we have plenty women but most are average height of 5'9 or less. It's not sexist, the height requirement is a must have for the coffin being lifted and laid.

Thank you for the answers by the way.