Controversial former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith plans to travel to London to participate in the official commemorations for the late Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting his status as a recipient of the prestigious Victoria Cross.
Roberts-Smith is awaiting the outcome of a high-profile defamation case in which he sued The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times over reports he alleges wrongly portrayed him as a war criminal and murderer.
Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith is expected to attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral commemorations in London. Credit:Nick Moir
The newspapers are seeking to rely on a defence of truth and allege Roberts-Smith was involved in six unlawful killings, including the execution of a man at Darwan in southern Afghanistan.
Winners of the Victoria Cross are invited to the funeral commemorations by Buckingham Palace as a matter of protocol given they were awarded the nation’s preeminent military honour.
Government sources said Victorian Cross winners from several Commonwealth nations had been invited to participate in an order of chivalry procession on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Afghanistan war veteran Mark Donaldson, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2009, is slated to represent Australian Victoria Cross and George Cross winners in the procession and to see the Queen lying in state.
Roberts-Smith, the nation’s most decorated living war hero, is expected to travel to London as early as today.
A spokeswoman for Roberts-Smith confirmed he had been invited to participate in the commemorations and she believed he would travel to the event.
Fellow Victoria Cross recipients Afghanistan War veteran Daniel Keighran and Vietnam War veteran Keith Payne are also expected to attend the event if possible.
Payne, 89, is the last living Australian recipient of the original “Imperial” Victoria Cross.
Payne told The Courier-Mail this week he wanted to travel to London for the funeral but he needed to pass a physical exam first.
More to come.
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