The nurse who delivered the world’s first-ever COVID-19 jab was among several health workers and volunteers representing the NHS in the funeral procession with the Queen’s coffin as part of the Civilian Services Contingent.
Parsons famously delivered the first jab of the Pfizer vaccine to 90-year-old grandmother Maggie Keenan on December 8, 2020.
Parsons met the Queen in July 2022, when she was awarded George Cross to the NHS for its work during the pandemic.
Parsons accepted the award on behalf of the institution at a small ceremony at Windsor Castle.
It was one of the last ceremonial medal presentations the Queen took part in.
As of writing, the Queen’s procession arrived at Wellington Arch. The bearer party will lift the coffin from the state gun carriage and place it in the state hearse before the car leaves for Windsor.
There will be a royal salute and the national anthem will be played.
The arch was an original entrance to Buckingham Palace, later becoming a victory arch commemorating the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon.
