Queen's sympathy for her gardener as his hero son dies in Afghanistan

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Royal Marine Ben Reddy, 22, who was killed by insurgents

The Queen has sent a personal message of condolence to her Royal gardener at Windsor Castle, whose Commando son has been killed in Afghanistan.

Royal Marine Ben Reddy, 22, was killed when K Company of 42 Commando came under fire from militants in the volatile Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

While on leave, Ben lived with his parents Liz and Phil Reddy at their home in Windsor Great Park. Mr Reddy has worked as a gardener for the Queen for many years.

Senior Royal sources say the death of Marine Reddy - described as a 'hero' by his grieving parents - has brought into sharp perspective for the Queen the risks of the forthcoming deployment to Iraq of her grandson Prince Harry, who is the same age.

Buckingham Palace refused to discuss what they termed a 'private matter'.

But Royal insiders told The Mail on Sunday that the Queen had sent a private message to Mr and Mrs Reddy, whose son was the 51st British serviceman to die in Afghanistan since 2001 and the ninth Royal Marine killed since they took over the main infantry fighting force from the Paras in the autumn.

Marine Reddy, who was said to have been 'particularly close' to his family, died last Tuesday as his unit launched an assault on insurgents near the strategically important Kajaki Dam. The Marines were trying to clear a safe area around the dam, enabling engineers to upgrade a power station, when they came under fire.

Marine Reddy had served in Afghanistan for nearly six months and was due home within weeks.

His body is expected to be flown back to Britain in the next few days.

Mr and Mrs Reddy were too upset to comment. They were being comforted by friends and relatives.

But in a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence after their son's death, they said: 'This is the saddest day in our lives. Ben's death has left us feeling totally empty. He was, and always will be, our hero.'

His comrades in K Company said: 'Ben's absence will be profoundly felt within K Company. We have lost a vibrant, unique character with an irrepressible sense of loyalty to his comrades. But, most of all, we have lost a true friend.'

Marine Reddy's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Holmes, said: 'He was rightly very proud of his Green Beret, the outward mark of the Commando soldier.

'However, the real display of his Commando qualities was in his daily actions with K Company, and he had acquitted himself well fighting alongside his colleagues on numerous occasions.

'Courageous and proficient when in contact with the enemy, his fighting spirit was indomitable.'

 

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