Maritime and Coastguard Agency pays tribute to Her Late Majesty

Her Majesty’s Coastguard. For over 70 years, staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to keep people safe at the coast, in the name of our late Queen.

So long was her reign that no current coastguard or employee of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has worked under any other monarch.

As an emergency service and government agency, many of our people have had the honour of meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II over the years, and are keen to share their heartfelt tributes and memories of the moments they will never forget.

The King was a coastguard when at school at Gordonstoun. July 1967                        Credit: Gordonstoun

So, as we welcome a new King and move into a new era as His Majesty’s Coastguard, we take a final moment to pay tribute to our late Queen.

A common theme, reflected across the many tributes from the nation, was of a charming – and always smiling – Queen who put those in her presence at ease with her good grace and humour.

Though incredibly sad, all the memories share a deep sense of respect for a monarch who dedicated her life to service and duty, and she will be greatly missed by the maritime community.

Andrew Reilly (right), senior aeronautical operations officer for HM Coastguard, on police horse Noble following the Trooping the Colour parade in 1996. Andy was stationed at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace and worked alongside members of the Royal household. He undertook daily ceremonial escort duties for the Changing of the Guard, the Household Division of Foot Guards and Mounted Cavalry, at Buckingham Palace, St James Palace and Horse Guards Parade. Noble was also selected for the Colonel of the Irish Guards, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, to ride at the parade. Andy said this period of his career is something he will 'hold on to for the rest of my days'.


Delivery Manager Paul Carter shared two very different memories of meeting Her Majesty; one an unexpected delight while the other a more formal affair – but both are ‘cherished’ memories.

“I’ve met the Queen twice: and both occasions were very special,” he said. “The first time was about 25 years ago and it was completely by accident. I was at the side of Windsor Castle, taking pictures through the gates on The Long Walk when I noticed an old-fashioned car driving towards me.

“It pulled up and the Queen herself rolled down her window, leaned out and – very politely of course – asked if I could move to let her through as the gates opened.

“I was quite shocked, it was so normal – but it felt very special. This was our Queen ‘off-duty’, it was just her and Prince Philip off somewhere, and it was a wonderful chance to see her in a way not many do.

“The second time was when I was working security in Canterbury, and it was just a pleasure once more, as gracious and friendly as she ever was.

“It’s not every day that you meet the Queen. And somehow, I was lucky enough to get the chance twice.”

Jane Lee, maritime surveillance specialist for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, receiving her MBE at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh in June 2015. Jane said she was 'thrilled and honoured' by the occasion.


Meanwhile Richard Wilson, Head of the Office of the Chairman and Chief Executive, recalled his treasured memory of receiving an OBE at Windsor Castle in February 2018, alongside his wife and two adult children.

He said: “It is only for a minute or two, but she made me feel special and valued, it is an experience that will live with me forever.

“I am frankly a short bloke at 5 foot 6 inches, and even when the Queen stood on a platform in front of me, she was even shorter!

“But, as many others have said, she immediately disarmed me and put me at ease with her smile and friendliness – she first put the award on you and then chatted away as if she had known me for years. We talked about the work of the MCA, and a charity that I led at the time.” 

Richard said his experience of meeting the Queen made him feel 'special and valued; 


Vessel traffic services operator Kerry Chapman also met the Queen in April 1993, as she gained invaluable search and rescue skills as a senior aircraftwoman in the RAF.

Selected to be a part of a royal review at RAF Marham, Kerry said she meticulously ironed her uniform and polished her shoes in preparation.

“The day was supposed to consist of a royal review by the Queen, who would be treated to the spectacle of a huge military parade and one of the biggest peacetime flight displays ever to grace the skies. 

“But the day of the parade was an absolute washout. It rained and rained and rained. 

“The huge flypast was cancelled, and the (whittled down) parade troupe (of which I was one) was shuffled into an aircraft hangar to carry out what was left of the day’s proceedings inside.

“As it happened, all of the remaining troupe were inspected by the Queen. She walked up and down the lines and walked so close to me that I could have reached out and touched her on the shoulder.

“I remember feeling rather chuffed at the time that all of my ironing and shoe bulling hadn’t gone to waste, because the Queen had actually seen my efforts!”

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HM Coastguard's Dayle Jones (furthest right) taking part in rehearsals for the state funeral on Monday, as part of a four-person contingent representing HM Coastguard in the Civilian Services Contingent. The four will march alongside the Merchant Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, police forces, fire and rescue services, HM Prison and Probation Services, ambulance services, St John's Ambulance, British Red Cross and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service                                            Credit: www.andersonphotography.co.uk

Four coastguards also have the ‘incredible honour’ of representing the service at tomorrow’s funeral procession, for one final precious memory with Her Late Majesty.

Dayle Jones (MRCC Belfast), Andrew Bolter (MRCC Holyhead), volunteer Kevin Moran and Casey Foot (JRCC) will be part of the Civilian Services Contingent taking part in the state funeral on Monday.

Dayle said: “To be entrusted with this on behalf of the entire service is such an incredible honour, and a memory that I will cherish forever.

“The four of us come from different operational as well as geographical areas within HM Coastguard, to represent the nationwide service.

“We have a strong connection with the monarch as part of the government and as part of the search and rescue family and we are very proud to be able to pay our respects in this way.

“We have been busy training and preparing for tomorrow, to ensure we are ready.”

Andrew also spent a decade in the Royal Navy, five years of which were spent on the Royal Yacht, working in the presence of the royal family.

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