Prince
William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge have helped kick-off
the Queen's birthday celebrations this weekend by joining a star-studded
crowd for a ceremony honouring her 90 years.
The
young royals stole the show as they joined hundreds of politicians,
dignitaries, celebrity guests and the extended Royal Family for a
special thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, central London,
this morning.
Looking
resplendent in primrose yellow, Her Majesty gave fans a royal wave and
appeared in great spirits as she arrived alongside the Duke of Edinburgh
– who is celebrating his own 95th birthday today – for the 11am
service.
The
ceremony, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and attended
by a star-studded congregation including Princesses Beatrice and
Eugenie, former prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair and television
personalities Clare Balding and David Attenborough, kicks-off a
three-day series of festivities in the capital to mark the Queen's
birthday.
Princesses
Beatrice and Eugenie, Prince Edward's daughters Amelia and Louise ,
Prince Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and the Prince and Princess
Michael of York were also in attendance - as were a host of politicians
including David Cameron, George Osborne and Jeremy Corbyn.
During
the special service, the Archbishop of Canterbury praised the way the
Queen had ruled 'through war and hardship, through turmoil and change
during the course of her 90 years' and asked the congregation to look
back on her rule 'with deep wonder and profound gratitude'.
It's my
birthday! The Queen, looking resplendent in primrose yellow, was all
smiles as she left the ceremony to mark her 90th birthday at St Paul's
Cathedral today where the Archbishop of Canterbury praised her
dedication and service to the nation in a heartwarming sermon
A royal
turn-out: The Queen, clutching the Order of Service tightly in one hand,
steadied herself with a handrail outside St Paul's Cathedral as she
left the ceremony marking her 90th birthday. Right: Prince William and
Kate smile as they leave the service alongside Prince Harry
Young royals leading the way: Prince
Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared in great spirits as
they left the ceremony
A (Royal)
family occasion: Prince Charles and Camilla (left) and Mike and Zara
Tindall (right) appeared deep in thought after the service
Family day out: members of the royal
family including (from left) Prince Andrew, his children Princesses
Beatrice and Eugenie, Princess Edward and his son James, Princess Anne,
Prince Edward's daughter Louise, Sophie Countess of Wessex and Autumn
and Peter Phillips
Splendid: The Queen and a rather happy Duke of Edinburgh thanked the Archbishop for his moving sermon as they departed St Paul's
Stunning: This incredible aerial photograph shows the full congregation inside St Paul's during the ceremony to honour the Queen
The
Most Rev Justin Welby praised the Queen's dedication and service to the
nation and he rejoiced for the way 'God's loving care' had 'fearfully
and wonderfully' sustained not only the monarch but the Duke of
Edinburgh.
Leading
figures from national life gathered for the service, which heralded the
start of a weekend of celebrations marking the Queen's milestone.
Joining
the royal birthday couple in the congregation was Prime Minister David
Cameron, who gave a reading from the New Testament, the Prince of Wales,
Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
The
world of politics was represented by former prime ministers Tony Blair
and Sir John Major, senior figures from the Cabinet including Chancellor
George Osborne, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Governors
general from the Queen's realms were also among those invited, along
with faith leaders and hundreds of ordinary people nominated by
Government departments to recognise their service.
Archbishop
Welby began his sermon by telling the congregation of more than 2,000:
'Ninety years ago, Her Majesty The Queen was born, like every human
being knit together in her mother's womb, and today we thank God for the
way in which she, like every human being, is fearfully and wonderfully
made.
'Before
we ever come to light, God marks our journeys. No one at the Queen's
birth knew for what she was destined. Today we recognise that God knew.'
He
went on: 'We are here today to worship the God who made our Queen, and
to celebrate the way in which God's hand has been so uniquely evident in
her life.'
The Duchess has arrived: Kate was
greeted with smiles as she entered St Paul's Cathedral for the service
to mark the Queen's 90 years
Standing ovation: The congregation got
to their feet as the Queen, elegant in primrose yellow, and Prince
Philip arrived for the service
Happy faces everywhere! Mike and Zara Tindall appeared delighted inside the Cathedral while George Osborne spoke with Tony Blair
Familiar
faces: Prince Harry and Camilla (right) were both in great spirits
during the service which took place at St Paul's from 11am
A true gent: Prince William lovingly
placed his hand on Kate's back as she made their way to their seats
ahead of this morning's service
Moving: The Duke of Edinburgh appeared
to stop and pay his respects as he made his way to the front of the
Cathedral with the Queen
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF MICHAEL BOND'S REFLECTIONS ON PASSING OF THE YEARS READ BY DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Sir David Attenborough read a passage by Paddington creator Michael Bond about the passing of the years and reaching 90
Here
is the full transcript of Michael Bond's reflections on the passing of
the years read by Sir David Attenborough during the St Paul's Cathedral
national service of thanksgiving to mark the Queen's 90th birthday.
'Like
me, author Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear among other
characters, also celebrated his 90th birthday this year. He reflects on
the 1926 vintage and the passing of the years:
'I
was born on January 13 1926. My mother took one look at the scales and
decided to call it a day. I weighed over 11lbs so I was destined to be
an only child at the outset. As a precaution she stood me in a bowl of
Tidman's Sea salt to stop me going bandy with the weight, and it seems
to have worked.
'Apart
from an entry in the local paper it went unreported. The Times of
London was more concerned with the fate of a bus conductor who was in
court charged with allowing an excess of passengers to board an omnibus
in East Ham. 'They swarmed on before I 'ad a chance to count them,' was
his plea. Things moved at a different rate since those days.
'I
was fortunate enough to be brought up in a house where books were part
of the furniture. Mother was such an avid reader she wrote to authors to
thank them and in the same letter ask if they could make the next book a
little longer.
'My
father's motto was 'the most precious gift you can bestow on a child is
your time.' He was a very polite man and always wore a hat when he went
outside in public in case he met someone he knew - even when paddling
in the sea. That aside, he tended to be accident prone.
'For
example: He rode a bicycle to work, and one day he managed to get both
wheels caught inside a tram line. Instead of stopping there and then to
unravel himself, he left it until he reached the depot, only to fall and
break a collar-bone.
'And
I clearly remember the day when he suggested a race. I got to the
bottom of the garden and my father wasn't with me. He had set off at
great speed with his head down to reduce resistance and ran straight
into the garden shed. Flat on his back, he was muttering 'Strike me
pink'.
'Mind
you, addressing people older than yourself by their Christian name if
you were a child could be a tricky business in those days which meant
that most were either labelled an uncle or an aunty. Owing to the
horrendous casualties in the First World War there were far more of the
latter and because most of them led lonely lives I was frequently
invited to stay while I was growing up. It was a mixed blessing.
'There
was Auntie Emm, who insisted on giving me a daily bath. She smoked
endless cigarettes whilst she was doing it and the ash used to fall all
over me.
'Then
there were two aunts who kept a dog kennels near Newbury's Greenham
Common. Auntie Annie who brought everyone to attention whenever the
National Anthem was played on the radio, and Auntie Gee, who was stone
deaf.
'The
latter loved going to the cinema, and as she was unable to lip-read
from the picture on the screen Auntie Annie took a torch and shone the
light on her own lips instead as she read the words out loud. Lovely
ladies both, but ...
'Confusion was being piled on confusion.
'It
wasn't until I reached the age of 90 that I began to realise the
comfort of Louise Haskins's words suggesting that when you have a
problem your best bet is to consult the man who stands at the gate of
the year.
''Truly, if you put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way'.'
Happy Birthday Ma'am: The Queen,
looking resplendent in canary yellow, gave a royal wave as she climbed
the stairs of St Paul's Cathedral
In great spirits: The Duke of
Edinburgh waved to royal fans alongside the Queen today as they prepared
to enter St Paul's for the service
Let the celebrations begin: The Queen,
head-to-toe in canary yellow, was joined by Prince Philip for the
special ceremony at St Paul's
A special
occasion: The Duchess of Cambridge stunned in a dusty blue and white
lace ensemble as she arrived alongside her husband Prince William and
brother-in-law Prince Harry for the thanksgiving service to mark the
Queen's 90th birthday at St Paul's Cathedral
A royal wave: Prince Harry gives fans a
nod as he arrives at St Paul's Cathedral with the Duchess of Cambridge
ahead of the ceremony
The Royals:
Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge (left)
arrived together for the ceremony, which they seemed in good spirits
for. Right: Prince William and his wife Kate share a joke with a member
of the congregation, which includes dozens of celebrities
Having a
splendid time: Prince Harry made the Duchess of Cambridge (left and
right) howl with laughter once they were inside St Paul's
Leading the celebrations: Prince
William, his wife Kate and Prince Harry led the way as they arrived at
St Paul's Cathedral for the ceremony
Archbishop
Welby read excerpts from Psalm 139 and told the congregation it
explored 'fear and wonder, and the connection between them'.
He added: 'Over the 63 years and the 90 years there has been much to fear: at times of personal challenge or national crisis.
'But
just as the Psalmist sees through fear to something more stirring and
more extraordinary, so we look back on Your Majesty's 90 years in the
life of our nation with deep wonder and profound gratitude.
'Through war and hardship, through turmoil and change, we have been fearfully and wonderfully sustained.'
Born
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York on April 21 1926 - the year
of the General Strike - she was never expected to be Queen.
But she has become the longest reigning and oldest monarch in British history - and now the first to reach 90.
Over
the decades, Britain has undergone major transformations from
technological advances such as computers and supersonic flight to
developments in society and the political landscape.
During
her 64-year reign the monarch has been served by 12 prime ministers
from Sir Winston Churchill to Mr Cameron, while Barack Obama is the 12th
US president to hold office over the same period.
Archbishop
Welby ended his sermon with the words: 'Your Majesty, today we rejoice
for the way in which God's loving care has fearfully and wonderfully
sustained you - as well as Prince Philip marking his 95th birthday
today.
'And
we rejoice, Your Majesty, for the way in which the life God has given
you in turn you have given wonderfully in service to this nation.
'You have been an instrument of God's peace, and through you God has so often turned fear into wonder - and joy.'
Source: Dailymail.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment