This morning (Wednesday 14th September), the whole school gathered in the Princess Hall for a Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving for HM Queen Elizabeth II, following her death on Wednesday 8th September 2022.
The service opened with a welcome and introduction by Revd Rosie, followed by the hymn Praise my Soul the King of Heaven (H.F. Lyte). Thanks go to Chaplaincy Prefect, Cat and Senior Prefect, Jojo for their readings, and to College Choir for their beautiful renditions of In Paradisum (Fauré) and Remember Me (Chilcott / Rossetti).
The service also included prayers and a blessing, and concluded with the first verse of the National Anthem. The Order of Service featured the well-known quote from HM Queen Elizabeth II: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”
Following the service, Principal Eve Jardine-Young said: "This morning was a very special time in the Princess Hall. I was so moved to see and hear and feel so many of us gathered together for a unique moment in history.
"Last Wednesday, with our Union Flag at full mast for the joyous start of a new academic year, we sang 'God Save The Queen'. This Wednesday, we are coming to terms with the loss of the Her Late Majesty The Queen, with our flag at half mast, having already heard the formal proclamation of our new King, Charles III.
"Today, collectively, we sang the National Anthem with our new words for the first time, mindful that as a College we are constituted on the basis of a Royal Charter granted in 1937."
The thanksgiving service took place ahead of The Queen's coffin being moved from Buckingham Palace to lie in state at Westminster Hall this afternoon, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects from 5.00pm.
Stage image of HM Queen Elizabeth II - copyright The Press Association.
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