Army Officer, 28, Who Rode in Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral Dies in Car Crash

Captain Lizzie Godwin, an army officer who rode in Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and King Charles’ coronation, has died. She was 28.

Godwin was killed in a car crash on Friday, Sept. 5, the U.K. newspaper The Sun was the first to report. According to the outlet, her friends said that she had been driving home when her car collided with another vehicle in Surrey, England. 

The British Army’s Household Cavalry confirmed Godwin’s death in an Instagram post on Monday, Sept. 8.

“It is with great sadness that we must announce the tragic passing of Captain Lizzie Godwin LG last week,” the cavalry wrote, alongside a photo of Godwin in uniform as a Life Guard sitting on a horse outside Buckingham Palace.

In the cavalry’s eulogy for Godwin shared on Facebook, she was described as a “determined” and “trailblazing young officer,” who “achieved a huge amount in her five years with the Household Cavalry.”

Godwin made history after becoming the first woman to join the Life Guards in 2020, three years after women were allowed to join the regiment. She initially served at the Household Cavalry Regiment in Bulford and then with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London.

Godwin’s biggest roles in her military career were in participating in Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022 and King Charles’ coronation the following year.

“It was during her time at the Mounted Regiment that she made her biggest impact on the Army and which she described as the greatest privilege of her life: participating in the Queen’s Funeral,” the cavalry shared. “Leading her troop in meticulous preparation for the Coronation and commanding a Division of The Life Guards on the day itself.”

Lizzie earned a military scholarship and during her short military career, she won the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst and a medal at the Cambrian Patrol competition, per The Independent.

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At the time of her death, Godwin was working at an Army Training Regiment in Pirbright, training the next generation of soldiers, according the eulogy. She was also an avid sports enthusiast and award-winning player, having played for the army hockey team and as a member of the Household Cavalry Polo team. 

The Guards Polo Club wrote in tribute on Instagram that they “were deeply saddened to learn of the recent death of Captain Elizabeth Godwin.” 

The calvary added in their tribute that Godwin “would want to be recalled simply as a tough and talented young officer doing her utmost to serve King and country and to lead and inspire soldiers.”

“Her sudden and untimely death leaves a huge void for all of us in the Household Cavalry family,” the cavalry wrote. “Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

The Independent reports that Godwin grew up in Devon and attended Exeter School. She was interviewed by the British magazine Tatler for its October 2023 issue, where she spoke about her achievements in the army.

“No matter what, you have to have a confident front, because if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will,” she said.

On the King’s coronation, she recalled, “I remember really looking forward to (it) and feeling so privileged. I had fortunately finished my equine training so that I would be in a privileged position to ride in the coronation.”