Ben Roberts-Smith, who instead of travelling with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his VIP plane, took a regular flight, is shown attending the Queen’s funeral in London.
The 43-year-old received the Victoria Cross when his unit was forced back and he stormed a well-guarded enemy machine gun position in Afghanistan, where he killed three militants.
Additionally, he is awaiting the verdict in his historic defamation trial against the Nine Network.
Due to his military honour, the soldier attended the funeral with dignitaries like Mr Albanese, Governor-General David Hurley, and a few well-known Australian citizens.
Mr Roberts-Smith was seen Monday at the Westminster Abbey liturgy wearing a suit studded with his combat decorations.
Last week, Mr Roberts-Smith officially accepted his invitation to the ceremony by sharing details of his 2011 meeting with the Queen.
The honoured digger described the encounter as “surreal” and claimed he was “caught away” by her “friendliness” and “knowledge.”
He recalled to the West Australian that “she sort of dropped her handbag on the double-seated couch and pointed for me to sit down, and I assumed that she would sit opposite me, but she sat right next to me and grabbed my arm and started talking to me about having just flown back from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at that time,” which he had just returned from.
The late monarch was praised by Mr Roberts-Smith as “magnificent,” a “stoic leader,” and “a wonderful queen.”
“I have the utmost regard for Her Majesty and everything that she has given up in her life and all that she has accomplished.”