- Frank Holland spent almost 40 years as Her Majesty’s Traveling Yeoman
The funeral of a key aide to the late Queen took place in Windsor today.
Frank Holland, who spent almost 40 years as Her Majesty’s Traveling Yeoman, died earlier this month aged 88.
He spent much of his career serving on the Queen’s beloved Royal Yacht Britannia, which was decommissioned by Tony Blair’s Labor government in 1997.
Staff stood outside Royal Mews at Windsor Castle as a hearse carrying Mr Holland’s coffin headed to nearby St Edward’s Catholic Church this morning.
In a sign of how much the Royal Family appreciated him, the flag atop the castle was lowered to half-mast earlier this week to honor Mr Holland.
The funeral of a key aide to the late Queen took place in Windsor today. Frank Holland, who spent almost 40 years as Her Majesty’s Traveling Yeoman, died earlier this month aged 88.
In 1969, the Queen awarded Mr Holland the Royal Victorian Medal for services to her.
After retiring, he lived in an apartment opposite St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where Her late Majesty was buried in September 2022 following her death at Balmoral.
Philip Reynolds, who served with Holland in the local Catenian Association, spoke warmly of the former royal aide in a moving eulogy.
He told how King Charles sent him a bouquet of flowers after a recent hospital visit and said the Queen stopped by to see him before leaving for Balmoral for the last time.
“I always thought it was admirable how he downplayed his relationship with the Royal Family,” she said.
“Whenever they asked him where he lived, his usual response was, ‘Oh, I live uptown.’
“I’m told that the king recently asked Frank, ‘How long have we known each other?’ to which Frank replied, ‘I’ve known you since you were five, Your Majesty.'”
And when Frank returned from an extended hospital stay last year, he was delighted to receive a large bouquet of flowers with the message “welcome home, Charles”.
Royal staff stand outside the Royal Mews in Windsor before the hearse carrying Mr Holland’s coffin passes by.
Holland spent much of his career serving on the Queen’s beloved royal yacht Britannia (above: the yacht that arrived in Torquay during a visit by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1988). It was closed by Tony Blair’s Labor government in 1997.
Queen Elizabeth II aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia on her Royal Jubilee Tour of Western Samoa, February 1977
The order of service for Mr Holland’s funeral at St Edward’s Catholic Church in Windsor
“I also know that before she left for Balmoral for the last time, the late Queen made it a point to see Frank to say goodbye. I think she knew he wouldn’t be returning to Windsor.
“Many of us noticed the change in Frank and how deeply his death affected him.”
Holland began his service on the Royal Yacht after serving in the Royal Navy as part of National Service.
He met his wife Joan, who was on the Queen Mother’s staff, after joining the Royal Household.
His role as Traveling Yeoman involved overseeing logistics in the
Mr Reynolds added: “He was a lovely man, a lovely gentleman and a very kind and gentle man.”
‘It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet you, Frank. May you rest in peace and be resurrected in glory.’
The hearse carrying Mr Holland’s coffin is carried towards St Edward’s Catholic Church