Overview
- Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, 24, fell from her horse after exiting the arena at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and died at the scene on May 15.
- Thames Valley Police are continuing an investigation that they have described as unexplained but non-suspicious.
- A funeral with full military honours was held on June 2 at the Guards’ Chapel, with Sullivan’s coffin carried on a gun carriage, draped in the Union flag, and a three‑round volley fired.
- The Ministry of Defence and Sullivan’s commanding officer paid tribute to her as an ‘immensely professional’ soldier and skilled rider, and Buckingham Palace said the King was ‘greatly shocked and saddened’ while noting royals at the arena were not told of the severity at the time.
- Some media accounts allege she was thrown and dragged near a gun carriage, and those unverified claims have generated calls for a safety review of the Royal Windsor Horse Show but have not been confirmed by official sources.