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Burnaby RCMP's ex-musical ride members honoured Mounties to lead Queen's funeral procession

"When the Queen spoke of us, she would say ‘my Mounties,'" remembers Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Kyle Kifferling from his time with the musical ride. Members of the ride will lead Queen Elizabeth II's funeral procession Monday.
Queen
Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Kyle Kifferling, mounted farthest right, was on hand when the RCMP presented Queen Elizabeth II with a Canadian horse named Sir John for her 90th birthday.

Burnaby Mounties who spent time with the RCMP’s famed musical ride are honoured RCMP musical ride members will be front and centre at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession in London Monday.

The RCMP announced Friday that four Mounties in iconic red tunics and Stetsons will ride side by side and lead the funeral procession.

Canada’s national police force and its musical ride developed strong ties with the Queen dating back to before she became Canada’s sovereign, according to RCMP riding master Sgt. Maj. Scott Williamson, who spoke at a news conference Friday.

“I like to think it dates back right to when her father was coronated in 1938,” he said. “As a little girl she requested to see the musical ride and inspect the horses and meet the horses. I like to think it started back then.”

The Queen again inspected the musical ride during the time of her own coronation in 1953.

But Williamson said the relationship was really cemented when the government of Canada gifted Queen Elizabeth Burmese – the first of eight RCMP horses Canada would eventually give as gifts to Her Majesty.

The Queen “personally requested” the presence of the musical ride at her Platinum Jubilee in May, according to an RCMP news release at the time.

 “I can’t, obviously, speak for Her Majesty, but she certainly did take a special liking to the Mounties,” Williamson said Friday. 

The RCMP wouldn’t reveal much about the details of Monday’s procession plans but said a recent rehearsal went well.

“As we would all expect, it’s being taken very seriously,” said Williamson. “There’s no room for error. We are looking at this as a no-fail mission … It’s going to be a very very special yet sombre event.”

Burnaby RCMP, too, has strong ties with the musical ride, including Burnaby’s first female Mountie who went on to be the first woman to join the musical ride.

“The bond we have with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is immense, and it was an honour to be a part of her musical ride,” said Cpl. Brett Cunningham, a member of the ride from 2012 to 2015. “I am very proud knowing that our friends and colleagues will have such a prominent role in honouring her, while representing Canada and the RCMP.”

Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Kyle Kifferling, a ride member from 2013 to 2020, was on hand at the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016, when the RCMP presented her with Sir John, one of the horses that will now lead her funeral procession Monday.

“When the Queen spoke of us, she would say ‘my Mounties,’” Kifferling said. “I am forever proud to have been part of this incredible relationship, and I am honoured to have served her and Canada.”

Follow Cornelia Naylor on Twitter @CorNaylor
Email cnaylor@burnabynow.com