Queen’s Edinburgh pallbearers included soldier from Fiji with outpouring of pride from countrymen

A young soldier from Fiji who was chosen to be one of Queen Elizabeth’s pallbearers has ‘done his family and his country proud’, his father says. 

Images of Ben Tubuna, from the Rewa province, carrying the coffin draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland as it was taken from Balmoral to Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh on Sunday have spread across the world. 

Mr Tubana, who lives in Inverness, is part of the Royal Regiment in Edinburgh, the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry, 1news reports.

He was one of the pallbearers chosen to carry the coffin, with a wreath of flowers taken from the Balmoral estate on top, on the important journey to the Scottish capital for one final time.

The soldier was then again seen helping to transport the coffin as it was carried outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse this afternoon and made the journey into St Giles’ Cathedral. 

Ben’s father Semi Tubuna, told FBC News his son informed him about the role just hours after the Queen’s passing. 

‘I was so happy and excited to find out that he was chosen to be a pallbearer. I’m touched that he is not only doing his family proud but his country,’ he said. 

‘What’s amazing about this is the fact there are thousands of soldiers and he is one of a handful to be selected.’

Mr Tubana was one of the pallbearers chosen to carry the coffin on the important journey to the Scottish capital for one final time

Pallbearers carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped with the Royal Standard of Scotland, as it arrives at Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh

Mourners will get the first opportunity to pay respects before the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II today as it lies in an Edinburgh cathedral – pictured is the coffin leaving Holyroodhouse along with the pallbearers

The Queen’s coffin travelled from Holyrood House in Edinburgh to nearby St Giles’ Church today

The service at St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday – King Charles III pictured walking with his Queen Consort closely behind 

It led to an outpouring of pride, with Fijan MP Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa, who was the first woman to serve as Fijan leader of the opposition, saying ‘you’ve done us at home proud’. 

‘Fiji may not be fully observing protocol of Her Late Majesty’s passing but I am glad to see a Fijian participating closely as pallbearer,’ she wrote. 

‘The young Fijian lad may have not been fully aware of how Fiji cherished the late monarch but scenes of him performing gave closure to many Fijians watching back home.

‘Fiji is proud and I am more than proud to see a Rewan doing duty to my sovereign Queen. Peni Vuiyale from Mualekaleka, Rewa, is a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Monarchs Regiment in Edinburgh.

‘Vinaka vakalevu Tagane, you’ve done us at home proud. I do hope to see more of our Fijian men and women serving in The British Army participate in her grand farewell.’

There was silence when the cortege entered the forecourt at the Palace of Holyroodhouse – where the Queen had spent time earlier this summer

Many took to social media to express their pride. One said: ‘Couldn’t be any prouder as a Fijian [to] see a fellow country man be a pallbearer in Scotland for The Late Her Majesty The Queen.

‘Definite pinnacle of a lifetime for the individual. May the stories of Her Majesty The Queen [be] passed onto our generations and the generation to come.

‘Can just imagine how proud the soldier’s parents will be. His village, his home town most of all proud country Fiji and adopted country.

‘Wondered on the weekend about the intricacies of a Royal funeral and was curious about the rituals around HM Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

‘Didn’t even stop to think about the idea that a young Rewan soldier might be Fijis contribution to the complex ceremonies of the week!’

People have been expressing their pride after a Fijan soldier was chosen as a pallbearer

One mourner added her sense of pride when she saw a Fijan carrying the coffin of ‘the most important person in this world’. 

‘As we mourn the passing of our beloved Queen in the UK,’ she wrote. 

‘I feel so happy and proud to see a Fijian carrying the coffin . Not only he is a Fijian but I’m a proud Rewan lady.

‘From a small island around the world you see he is carrying the most important person in this world.

‘May her soul Rest in Peace. Condolences from Northamptonshire.’

‘What a welcoming and joyous news to see one of our own being a pall bearer to Her Majesty,’ another said. 

Crowds packed Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile as the coffin carrying Queen arrived, having left her ‘beloved’ Balmoral estate – where she died peacefully on Thursday.

As the cortege headed down the Royal Mile – which stretches from Edinburgh Castle at one end to the royal residence of the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other – thousands gathered.

Members of the public have been gathering ahead of the cortege carrying the Queen starts the journey from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to nearby St Giles’ Cathedral

The coffin carrying the Queen as it travelled on Sunday on the six hour journey to Edinburgh

People packed the streets throughout Edinburgh to pay tribute to her Majesty the Queen

Crowds had been forming throughout the day, with people lined up several rows deep at the barriers that had been erected.

As the cortege went past on Sunday, there was a ripple of gentle applause from those who had come to see her and pay their respects, with many seen filming the scenes on mobile phones.

But there was silence when the cortege entered the forecourt at the Palace of Holyroodhouse – where the Queen had spent time earlier this summer.

Waiting outside the Palace, the Duke of York, and the Duke and Duchess of Wessex, received the Queen’s coffin.

A guard of honour was formed by the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland (Royal Company of Archers).

The Princess Royal, who had travelled down from Balmoral in the group of cars, and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence also stood alongside Andrew, Edward and Sophie – while members of the Royal Company of Archers acted as pallbearers, carrying the Queen’s coffin into the throne room at the palace.

It came at the end of a journey which lasted more than six hours, travelling from the countryside of Royal Deeside, right to the heart of the Scottish capital city.

Today, people have gathered again in Edinburgh to pay their respects to the Queen 

As well as those who packed the streets throughout Edinburgh, others had clambered on to Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags, trying to get the city’s best view of the gardens and courtyard of Holyroodhouse.

There was silence in the Palace courtyard, with members of staff lining up, wearing black armbands, as a mark of respect.

Before the coffin arrived, the Royal Company of Archers, also known as the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland performed a guard of honour for the Queen.

As the hearse carrying the queen’s coffin departed Balmoral on Sunday morning, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was a ‘sad and poignant moment as Her Majesty, The Queen leaves her beloved Balmoral for the final time’.

Ms Sturgeon added: ‘As she makes her journey to Edinburgh, Scotland will pay tribute to an extraordinary woman.’

King Charles III led the royal family in a poignant procession behind the coffin of his mother today as it travelled to an Edinburgh cathedral to allow the public to pay their respects.

The Queen has been taken from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to nearby St Giles’ Cathedral where her family, and a congregation drawn from all areas of Scottish society, attend a service of thanksgiving for her life.

Members of the public will also get the chance to see her coffin there, before it it is taken to Edinburgh Airport, for the journey down to London.

Her coffin will be flown to RAF Northolt on Tuesday, accompanied by the Princess Royal, before being driven to Buckingham Palace. 

The Queen’s lying in state will begin in Westminster Hall in London on Wednesday afternoon.

**Do you know the Queen’s pallbearers? Email danya.bazaraa@mailonline.co.uk and tips@dailymail.com**