After a member of his family was afflicted with Covid, champion horse trainer Chris Waller was had to decline the offer to go to the Queen’s burial alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Her Majesty’s personal friend Mr. Waller, 49, who is best known for training the record-breaking horse Winx, often contacted her each Saturday to discuss the upcoming races.
Mr. Waller expressed his regret for being unable to attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19 in a message shared on social media on Thursday (Monday evening AEST).
In saying goodbye to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, he remarked, “It’s an honour and I am incredibly thankful to have been given the chance by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the people of Australia.”
“Unfortunately, circumstances relating to COVID-19 prevent me from attending the burial.”
According to reports, Mr. Waller willingly decided not to go on the plane with Mr. Albanese, whose MPs have consistently opted to cover their faces while in Parliament.
Thoroughbred racing was a hobby of Queen Elizabeth II’s, and she even kept one of her own horses, Chalk Stream, at Mr. Waller’s barn.
At a meal at Royal Ascot, the Sydney-based trainer and his wife Stephanie presented Her Majesty with a shoe from Winx’s last triumph in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as a keepsake.
Just days before the Queen passed away at Balmoral Castle, age 96, Mr. Waller reportedly got “concerned” when his weekly conversation with her did not take place.
Like so many others, Mr. Waller stated, “I shall remember and live with the lovely memories I have of Her Majesty for the rest of my life; her love of horses and all animals, her zest for life, and the respect she accorded ordinary people.”
“The Royal Family and the rest of the world who are now in mourning have my sincere sympathies.”
What a wonderful life Her Majesty led, and what an influence to so many generations throughout the world she was and will remain.
One of the first people to leave for the burial was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday.
For the emotional service that will take place the following week, the PM will be joined by nine “ordinary” persons.
Wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott is among them. Horse trainer Chris Waller was also invited, but he had to decline on Thursday because a member of his close family had developed COVID-19.
The Queen was well-acquainted with Mr. Waller and was reportedly in touch with him before her passing on Thursday.
The other visitors from Australia include i4give creator Danny Abdallah, Senior Australian of the Year Trudy Lin, Western Australian of the Year Helen Milroy, Local Heroes Shanna Whan, Saba Abraham, and Kim Smith, and Senior Australian of the Years Valmai Dempsy and Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann.
Additionally, Mr. Albanese offered Gai and Robert Waterhouse a seat on his trip. These renowned racecar drivers had a close connection with The Queen.
Andrew Parker, Lord Chamberlain, extended an invitation to the duo for the burial. David Hayes, another Australian who received training from the Queen, will fly from Hong Kong, where he now resides, to attend the burial.
This week, Mr. Albanese said: “These regular Australians will go with me and the governor-general and join the acting high commissioner Lynn Atwood, who is presently in the UK.”
“We have assembled and verified that everyone of these individuals is competent to fly; they will be on the same flight as me, departing from Sydney on Thursday.”
The Commonwealth realms, which maintain the monarch as head of state, are given additional representation whereas other countries are only allowed to send their leader or designated representative along with a guest.
The high commissioner, governor’s general, and their guests may all be sent by the kingdoms.
They may also bring 10 regular citizens with them.
Ben Roberts-Smith, a contentious soldier, took a commercial flight from Brisbane to London earlier on Thursday instead of travelling with Mr. Albanese.
The Victoria Cross and George Cross Association sent separate invitations to Vietnam veteran Keith Payne, veterans of Afghanistan Mark Donaldson and Daniel Keighran, and Mr. Roberts-Smith, 43.
Since the association’s founding in 1956, the Queen has served as its patron, and she requested that all current members attend her burial before she passed away.