Tall man walking ahead of hearse was 'Queen's most dedicated servant'

With eyes around the world glued to Queen's funeral, two distinctive but little-known figures featured prominently in the procession. Marching with the coffin to Windsor ahead of the hearse was a man said to be one of the Queen's most trusted and loyal staff members. Wearing a black suit and walking just in front of the hearse carrying the casket was Paul Whybrew. Standing at 6ft4 he is nicknamed "Tall Paul".

According to former royal butler Grant Harrold, Whybrew was one of "the most powerful" royal aides because the Queen highly valued his relationship. It is said that he spent hours watching sport with her at Balmoral, and the Queen personally paid for his flat in Windsor to be renovated after she asked him to move closer.

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Last week, he accompanied the coffin as the Queen left Buckingham Palace for the final time, with the King and the royal family walking behind her coffin in solemn procession to the lying in state. He had previously accompanied the queen in her famous skit for the 2012 Olympic Games with James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

But on his right marched an even taller man. Matthew Magee was the Queen's private secretary. Mr Magee dwarfed Mr Whybrew, standing at an astonishing 7ft 2in. He was previously Prince Edward’s private secretary but was chosen to work with the Queen in 2018.

Having Mr Whybrew and Mr Magee accompany the Queen's body to Windsor mirrors Prince Philip's request that senior household staff walk behind his coffin at his own funeral. The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel, where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister Princess Margaret. The late Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin will be moved from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.
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