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Mason, who hopes to become a submariner, said: “It was a once-in-a-life-time experience and I’m just glad we didn’t let the boss down.” Mason was only 11 when he decided he would make the Royal Navy his life. Neither he nor Lisa had imagined his fledgling career would include a role at the centre of Monday’s funeral.

Lisa, 45, from Haworth, West Yorkshire, said: “Like millions of people we are royalists and it was just such an honour to see Mason there.

“Mason joined the Royal Navy in February and only passed out from basic training on May 20.

“It was what he has wanted since he joined the Sea Cadets at the age of 11. It was his dream and his plan.

“Being a Sea Cadet engrained certain values;  he knew what to expect and, on Monday, he knew what would be expected of him.”

When the family were told Mason had been selected, they were “beyond excited”.

“We were sworn to secrecy so couldn’t tell anyone, that was really hard,” Lisa said.

“I’ve tried to ask Mason why he was selected for the gun carriage party, as opposed to lining the street, but he claims he just does not know.

“I told him it was because he was good at shining his boots.

“But he knows it’s going to be hard for him to top this.

“He’ll have to command his own vessel or something.

“The Queen was their boss, and to be called to take part in the ceremony in this way made him terribly proud, too.”

Lisa, her husband Gary and their 16-year-old daughter Mia decided not to invite any family when they gathered around the television to watch the sombre procession. “We decided it would just be the three of us. I think we were all more nervous for Mason than he was himself.”

But others had different plans.

“My phone did not stop pinging. I was getting non-stop messages from family and people we knew who recognised Mason,” said Lisa, who works as a well- being mentor at Beckfoot Oakbank School in Keighley, where Mason was a pupil.

Neither Lisa nor Gary, a managing director for an aerospace company, know what drew their son to a life in the Royal Navy.

“I wish there was a lovely backstory to explain it, but none of us have military backgrounds,” she said.

“Mason has always been very inquisitive and has always wanted to see the world. Gary always used to say ‘If you want to see the world, join the Navy’ and it must have stuck from there.”

Mason is training to be a weapons engineer with the ambition of sailing on one of Britain’s nuclear deterrent submarines.

Lisa said: “I know Mason hopes that watching the procession and ceremony on Monday will make others consider a career in the Royal Navy, too. But honestly, I’m also proud of every single person who took part. Sometimes words aren’t enough.”

Mason, who is enjoying a spot of well-deserved leave, recalled his nervousness.

“At the start, before we came out of Warrington Barracks, I was very nervous,” he said.

“But as soon as we stepped out, my head cleared and I was fine.

“I was aware of all the people around me but I knew that looking around wouldn’t be professional. So I just looked forward, focused and carried out my duty. I honestly don’t know why I was chosen, but I felt so honoured.”

Mason is currently finishing his training as weapons engineer. In January he will spend a further ten weeks at HMS Raleigh and it is only in the summer that he will have his first experience of being at sea.

“As far as I’m concerned, working as a weapons engineer on our nuclear deterrent boats is the most important job in the Royal Navy,” he said.

Recalling Monday’s funeral, he added: “All my friends, even old mates from school, sent me loads of messages on Monday. They were really proud of me, and so was my sister Mia and my parents.

“But it doesn’t come close to how I feel having been honoured in such a way.  That goes for all of us.

“It was a once-in-a-life-time experience and I’m just glad we didn’t let the boss down.”

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