Hello, and welcome to st pauls cathedral, in the heart of the City Of London for a service of prayer and reflection in thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth ii. The service will open with the first address to the whole country by king charles iii. The congregation here will represent the mass of the people to whom he will speak from now on. From north to south, east to west. Because, unlike most State Celebrations or commemorations, the cathedral is not filled with those that are hereby reason of rank or status. The Prime Minister will give a reading. But all afternoon, crowds have been queueing up outside, because almost everybody here in this Wonderful Church have simply turned up because they want to be here. Access has been for anyone who can get to this place today. And as, outside buckingham palace, all day the crowds have been flowing around the crowds have been flowing around the cathedral, they want to take part. It is clear that this will be a service with a character
her the most heartfelt deb debt family could owe to their mother, understanding, example, guidance. queen elizabeth was a life well lived. a promise with destiny kept. and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. that promise of lifelong service i renew to you all today. alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the united kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the commonwealth, and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother as queen served the people of so many nations. in 1947 on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from cape town to the commonwealth to devote her life whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. that was more than a promise. it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. she made sacrifices for duty. her dedication and devotion of sovereign never waivered, through times of change
affection, guidance, understanding, and example. queen elizabeth s was a life well-lived, a promise with destiny kept. and she is mourned most deeply in her passing. that promise of lifelong service i renew to all today. alongside the personal grief that all my family are feeling, we also share with so many of you in the united kingdom, in all the countries where the queen was head of state, in the commonwealth, and across the world, a deep sense of gratitude for the more than 70 years in which my mother, as queen, served the people of so many nations. in 1947, on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast through capetown to the commonwealth to devote her life, whether it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. that was more than a promise. it was a profound personal commitment, which defined her whole life. she made sacrifices for duty. her dedication and devotion, sovereign, never wavered through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebratio