The community of Eglwyswrw in North Pembrokeshire witnessed a unique and emotional home-coming on Monday, October 25, with the return of its favourite equine son, Major Mercury of the Household Cavalry.

Mercury was born at the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in 2005 as Dyfed Grey Celt and left for the Army as a three-year old in 2008.

He debuted for the Household Cavalry in November 2010 and performed at his first Trooping of the Colour in 2011.

Following his great work, the farm welcomed HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall to the farm in 2018 and since them, 'Ed' and Mercury's niece 'Willa Rose' are now also in London, following in his hoof-steps, as drumhorses-in-training.

A popular and well-loved member of the Cavalry, Mercury returned to his birthplace as his ashes were laid to rest in the soil on which he was born, in the shadow of the Preseli Hills, in the company of over 100 well wishers from near and as far as Portsmouth who came to pay their final respects.

Mercury's ashes were handed over by Riding Master Karl Scholes to farm owner Huw Murphy and a brief service was led by local Minister Sian Elin Thomas, with farm member Mark Cole and local Member of Parliament Stephen Crabb contributing to the proceedings.

Following the service, Mercury's younger 13 year old sister Dyfed St Helena, known as Santes, carried him in the horse and carriage along with Karl Scholes and Mercury's final groom Kieran, to his final resting place alongside his mother Dyfed Countess.

As a part of Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Anniversary Green Canopy initiative, a number of oak tree sapplings were planted in the same paddock - the first being planted alongside Mercury's burial by Huw Murphy and Retired Riding Master Mark Avison who purchased Mercury from the farm 13 years earlier.

Farm spokesperson Mark Cole said: "It was a humbling day to welcome so many friends to the farm to pay a fond farewell to a remarkable horse who gave a great service to his country.

"Celt, as we will always know him, is now laid to rest with his mother with the Preseli Hills as his back drop and in the shade of what will be a great oak to commemorate The Queen's platinum anniversary, the Queen of course having been his Colonel-in-Chief.

"We are very pleased as a family to participate in the Green Canopy initiative to reduce carbon emissions and in so doing, to honour our Celt, Major Mercury with an oak tree that will stand tall and strong as he himself did so loyally and for so many years, with the Household Cavalry".