Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral Guardsman Found Dead at 18: Was Foul Play Involved?
One of Queen Elizabeth II's guardsmen, Jack Burnell-Williams, was found dead at an army barracks weeks after the State Funeral. He was only 18.
The Guardian first confirmed the news about Burnell-Williams, saying that the guardsman was initially found unresponsive at Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge and died on Sep. 28.
A spokesperson told the news outlet, "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."
MailOnline, meanwhile, confirmed that paramedics and police were called to the scene at 3:48 p.m. However, he was pronounced dead after the responders came.
Burnell-Williams' death came as a shock, but the police clarified they are not treating his passing as something suspicious. They also ruled out a foul play was involved.
On the other hand, Metropolitan Police said in a statement to PEOPLE that its officers would help in accomplishing a report to be submitted to the coroner.
The guardsman's mother, Laura, shared statements on Facebook (per The Independent) but were later taken down or turned private. She called Burnell-Williams a wonderful son whose death was truly heartbreaking.
Burnell-Williams became part of the guardsmen who protected the monarch's coffin as they marched from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch.
According to Yahoo! News, he was a recent recruit who already became part of several events before Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral.
Did Jack Burnell-Williams Commit Suicide?
Amid the absence of Burnell-Williams' cause of death, there have been different rumors surrounding his passing, including claims that he took his own life.
On Twitter, several users quoted an uncited source that inferred the guardsman committed suicide.
I’ve just read that one of the queens pall bearers, Jack Burnell Williams has died at only 18, article infers he took his own life at Hyde Park Barracks. What an awful tragedy. #RIPJack
— 🍉 Меlon 🍉 (@M3lanieJC) October 2, 2022
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Still, this should be taken with a grain of salt as no confirmation has yet been made available to the public. Internet users, instead, paid tribute to him and thanked him for serving Queen Elizabeth II until his death.
Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96, with her doctors saying she died peacefully after announcing she was not in a good state. She was laid to rest at King George VI's memorial chapel alongside Prince Philip's remains.
