Service of Thanksgiving for His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)

Today, the 29th of March 2022, a service of thanksgiving was held at Westminster Abbey for the life of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The service was conducted by the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster. Miss Doyin Sonibare a Gold Award holder of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gave a tribute.

Readings were conducted by The Right Hon. The Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC and The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Lord Bishop of London. The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO, The Dean of Windsor gave the Address and The Most Reverend and the Right Honourable Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury gave the Blessing.

The congregation consisted of the Royal Family, Prince Philip's wider family and friends, and members of overseas Royal Families. As well as representatives from the British and Devolved Governments. The High Commissioners from the Commonwealth realms, Representatives of British Overseas Territories, The Armed Forces, Staff members of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Household and The Duke of Edinburgh’s patronages.

The Service was attended by the following members of the British royal family who were seated in the south transept: 

First row left side:

HM The Queen
HRH The Prince of Wales
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall
HRH The Princess Royal
Sir Timothy Laurence

First row right side:

Prince Andrew, Duke of York
HRH Prince Edward Earl of Wessex and Forfar
HRH The Countess of Wessex and Forfar
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
James, Viscount Severn

Second row left side:

HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
HRH Prince George of Cambridge
HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

Second row right side:

Mr Peter Phillips
Miss Isla Phillips
Miss Savannah Phillips
Miss Mia Tindall
Mrs Zara Tindall
Mr Mike Tindall

Third row left side:

HRH Princess Beatrice
Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
HRH Princess Eugenie
Mr Jack Brooksbank
The Right Honourable The Earl of Snowdon
Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones

Third row right side:

Charles, Viscount Linley
Lady Sarah Chatto
Mr Daniel Chatto
Mr Samuel Chatto
Mr Arthur Chatto

Fourth row left side:

HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
Alexander, Earl of Ulster
Lady Rose Gilman
Mr George Gilman
HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Fourth row right side:

George, Earl of St Andrews
Edward, Lord Downpatrick
The Countess of St Andrews
Lady Amelia Windsor
Lady Helen Taylor
Mr Cassius Taylor

Fifth row left side:

Prince Michael of Kent
Princess Michael of Kent
Lord Frederick Windsor
Lady Frederick Windsor
Lady Gabriella Kingston
Mr Thomas Kingston

Fifth row right side:

Lord Nicholas Windsor
Mr James Ogilvy
Mrs Julia Ogilvy
Mrs Flora Vesterberg
Mr Timothy Vesterberg
Miss Zenouska Mowatt

The Service was also attended by the following overseas reigning and non-reigning royals:

The King and Queen of the Belgians
The Queen of Denmark
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
The Prince of Monaco
The King and Queen of the Netherlands
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
The King and Queen of Spain
The King and Queen of Sweden
Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath El Hassan
Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
Prince Philippos and Princess Nina of Greece
Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown and Prince Radu of Romania
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia
Prince Kyril of Preslav
Princess Christina of Sweden
The Hereditary Prince and Princess of Baden
Prince Leopold of Baden
Prince Michael and Princess Michael (Christina) of Baden
Prince and Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse

HRH Prince Henry of Wales KCVO to marry Ms Meghan Markle

Today Clarence House announced the engagement of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales KCVO and Ms Meghan Markle. The wedding will take place in the spring of 2018, the venue is yet to be announced. The couple began their relationship in June 2016.

Ms Markle is a 36 year old American actress and is currently starring in the American television show ‘Suits’, but will likely leave the show in order to take on royal duties. Ms Markle has been married before to Mr Trevor Engelson in 2011 and they divorced in 2013.

The fact that Ms Markle is a divorcee has raised questions regarding a Church of England wedding for Prince Henry and Ms Markle. In 2002 the Church of England’s General Synod voted in favour of allowing divorcee’s to marry within the church at the discretion of the minister who will be officiating the marriage.

The minister officiating is likely to be the Archbishop of Canterbury who has been informed and has given his good wishes to the couple, paving the way for a Church of England wedding for the couple.

The couple have also announced they will be living together in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are said to be delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are thrilled and hope they'll be very happy indeed.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said that they are very excited for Harry and Meghan.

Ms Markle's parents, Mr Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland have wished the couple ‘a lifetime of happiness’.

New Member of the United Kingdom Privy Council

Her Majesty the Queen approved the following person member of Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council.
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby

Peerage for Archbishop of Canterbury

Her Majesty the Queen granted a peerage for life to the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams Lord Archbishop of Canterbury he will be styled and titled Baron Williams of Oystermouth in the City and County of Swansea.

Queen Honours Archbishop of Canterbury

Her Majesty the Queen invested The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury with the Royal Victorian Chain for his service as Primate of All England. The Royal Victorian Chain is a personal award from the monarch; there are only 14 living recipients.

New Archbishop of Canterbury

Her Majesty the Queen has nominated the Right Reverend Justin Welby MA Hon FCT, the Lord Bishop of Durham to the offices of Bishop of the see of Canterbury, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England. Right Reverend Welby will become the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury and will be enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral on the 21st of March 2013.