Hamilton Argylls march at funeral for the Queen in London

For Hamilton's Argylls, Elizabeth II was their symbolic leader even before she became the Queen.

She was still a princess in May 1950, two years before acceding to the throne, when appointed by her father, King George VI, to serve as colonel-in-chief of the historic regiment.

On Monday, five members of Hamilton's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders marched in the funeral in London to pay respects to the Queen, who had served as regiment figurehead for 72 years.

Among them was Glenn DeCaire, Hamilton's former police chief, who is an honorary lieutenant-colonel with the Argylls - and who, in addition to marching, had a front-row seat to history in Westminster Abbey.

He was there, about 20 rows from where the coffin lay, to hear the Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon (People of loving service are rare in any walk of life; leaders of loving service are still rarer") and sing The Lord's My Shepherd" with the congregation (Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me; and in God's house for evermore my dwelling place shall be.")

The hymn had also been sung at Elizabeth's wedding in 1947.

To represent the Argylls ... this is one of the top events in my life in which I've been able to participate," DeCaire told The Spectator.

DeCaire took note of the many presidents and prime ministers and dignitaries sitting in his area, in the north wing of the 753-year-old church.

All the heads of state paying respects; it really shows the Queen's ability to transcend politics and bring people together. It was astounding to see."

After the service, DeCaire marched two and a half kilometres from the church to Wellington Arch near Buckingham Palace, together with Argyll commanding officer Lt.-Col. Carlo Tittarelli, Chief Warrant Officer Mark Brewster, Warrant Officer/Pipe Major Scott Balinson and Master Corporal Eric Korten.

Never do you think you'd ever be involved in a funeral procession for Her Majesty the Queen," said DeCaire. And yet here we were, five Argylls showing our respect for the colonel-in-chief, and to help provide a proper send-off and to thank her for everything she has done for our unit."

He said that while he took note of the sea of people watching the parade, he mostly kept his eyes straight ahead.

You're focused on making sure you pay respects to the Queen throughout, the concentration level is very high."

In the past, DeCaire would walk past a portrait of the Queen every day at work, entering the lobby of central police station on King William Street downtown; he has toasted her at events in the officer's mess in the John Weir Foote V.C. Armoury on James Street North, where a striking oil painting of the monarch hangs.

DeCaire now works as a special constable at McMaster University, as does Balinson. (Balinson's late father, Morley, was a veteran of the Korean War.)

While in the U.K., the Argylls visited Brookwood Cemetery, southwest of London, to visit graves of two regiment soldiers who died during the Second World War: Acting Sgt. John Rennie and Pte. Thomas Nangle.

Meanwhile, in Ottawa on Monday, 21-year old Hamilton Argyll reservist Madelyn Neil took part in a parade honouring the Queen. Neil is the lead drummer with the regiment and recently graduated from Mohawk College, where she studied law enforcement.

It was amazing, a real honour to pay tribute to her majesty's legacy," Neil told The Spec. I was hoping to be on this task. It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

Jon Wells is a feature writer at The Spectator. jwells@thespec.com