A woman who has been volunteering for St John Ambulance since she was a teenager was part of the Queen's funeral procession.
Nakkita Charag is one of the youngest members in St John to be given an Order of Chivalry by Queen Elizabeth II. The 23-year-old, from Fenham, Newcastle, was in the congregation for Her Majesty's funeral service at Westminster Abbey in London yesterday.
During the rehearsal and the procession, she met actress Sandra Oh , who is an Officer of the Order of Canada. Nakkita said the Killing Eve star recognised her from the rehearsal and wished her luck.
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Nakkita, who represented the Order of St John, said: "When I was invited, I was amazed that, out of 250,000 people worldwide, they chose me – a working class girl from Newcastle-upon-Tyne!
"I was the first of the Order of St John to enter the Abbey, so I knew everyone was following me and watching me, which was very daunting.
The whole world was watching. I just had to keep thinking – left, right, left, right and putting the right steps forward. All I was thinking was I had my parade shoes on and I didn't want to slip on the marble floor in the Abbey!
"When her Majesty’s coffin went past with her crown on the top. That was a surreal moment.
"I feel so proud I got to represent the Order of St John and be there at the funeral."
Nakkita began volunteering for St John Ambulance as a cadet when she was 13 years old, after being encouraged to attend by her friend. When she was 16, her dad suffered a heart attack and she was able to recognise the symptoms and help save his life.
She said that as part of her role in St John, Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Tees invited her to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She attended the wedding in 2018 as a guest and took along her sister.
Nakkita, who is currently an advisor for NHS Cadets programme and Youth Advocate for Northumbria County Priory Group, said: "I was born in Benwell and I have lived in Fenham. To think that I have gone from there to being at two Royal Family events. I'm just really honoured that people value me and see the work that I'm doing."
Nakkita discovered she would be part of the Queen's funeral procession a week ago. She said she rehearsed the procession prior to the funeral and got up at 4am on the day of the service so she would be prepared. She said it took time to go through security and her hair had to be put up by a stylist, as it needed to be off the collar of her robe.
Nakkita, who has volunteered for St John Ambulance for nine years, said: "I was part of history today. You don't get that sense of realism until after the event is over.
"I think I was a little bit shocked that I had been invited but I was very honoured. Everyone was proud to be there. It was a privilege to be part of the procession and the events that occurred today. I saw all of the Royal Family, I was in close proximity to them all.
"I think the service was fitting for the Queen. I think rather than it being moving it felt like a celebration of her life and a massive comfort to the Royal Family that they could lay her to rest.
"I have only been alive for the last quarter of the Queen's reign. I'm fascinated by the fact she was living history. She saw the end of World War II, Nelson Mandela being released and the invention of the internet. When you put all of that together, that's the end of an era."
The Queen was Sovereign Head of The Order of St John and approved the names of people invested or promoted within the Order. People are generally given the order for acts of lifesaving, dedication/contribution to St John and long service.
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