The parents of a 24-year-old soldier serving with the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery who died following a tragic incident at the Royal Windsor Horse Show have issued emotional tributes to their daughter.
Ciara Sullivan fell from her horse at approximately 7pm on Friday evening, moments after exiting the arena where she had just performed before King Charles and other members of the Royal Family.
Despite receiving immediate medical attention at the scene, the young rider sustained fatal injuries and could not be saved.
Thames Valley Police have confirmed they are treating the death as unexplained but non-suspicious.
King Charles attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday and Saturday (Stock image)
|PA
Ms Sullivan was a member of the prestigious ceremonial unit, whose duties include firing salutes, participating in parades, and supporting the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards in central London.
Friends and family have described Ms Sullivan as a "beautiful soul" who "passed away doing what she loved".
Her father posted a photograph of his daughter on social media, accompanied by the words: "The honour. The service. They will never be forgotten."
In response to tributes from the equestrian community, her mother wrote: "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to write this. She was doing what she loved."
Close friend Josephine Coates also shared her grief online, writing: "Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you until we meet again. Goodbye my friend, rest easy."
The young soldier had previously appeared on the Army Benevolent Fund podcast discussing her apprenticeship as an equine groom.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles was "greatly shocked and saddened" upon learning of Ms Sullivan's death.
A spokesperson stated that the monarch "will be in touch with the family to share his personal condolences".
The Palace added that while His Majesty and other Royal Family members were present at the arena when the incident occurred, they were not informed of its severity until afterwards.
"The thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies of the whole Royal Family are with the victim's loved ones and military colleagues at this time of grief," the spokesperson said.
On Saturday morning, the King met with members of the troop alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as he arrived for the third day of the show.
Eleanor Lucas Bell, who knew Ms Sullivan personally, paid tribute to the rider's extraordinary abilities in a heartfelt social media post.
"She had ridden my boys, and I saw first hand the incredible talent, horsemanship and dedication she possessed," she wrote. "She was the very pinnacle of equestrianism someone I looked up to enormously as both a rider and a role model."
Ms Lucas Bell revealed that watching Ms Sullivan perform with such skill and professionalism had partly inspired her own interest in joining the military.
She reflected on the inherent dangers of working with horses, noting that the tragedy serves as "a heartbreaking reminder of just how dangerous and unforgiving equestrian sport can be".
"Her loss will be felt deeply by so many, which says everything about the beautiful soul she was. Stand down Gunner," she concluded.
Thames Valley Police chief superintendent Michael Loebenberg has appealed for anyone with information or relevant material to come forward.
"At this stage, we have not found any suspicious circumstances," he said. "We are working with the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch and Royal Windsor Horse Show organisers HPower to gather as much information as possible to understand how this happened."
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