The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attend a Thanksgiving Service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s official birthday
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The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall joined members of the Royal Family at St Paul’s Cathedral today for a special service to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s official birthday.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby, suggested the Queen had sustained the country "through war and hardship, through turmoil and change" during the thanksgiving service to mark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.
Royal attendees included The Duke of Edinburgh, who marks his 95th birthday today, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Governors-General from Commonwealth Realms were also among those at the service today, along with faith leaders and hundreds of people nominated by Government departments to recognise their service. Prime Minister David Cameron was also in attendance, and gave a reading from the New Testament.
During the service Sir David Attenborough read Paddington Bear creator, Michael Bond's personal account of growing up to be 90 and the congregation enjoyed a number of performances, including one by pianist Martin James Bartlett, the BBC Young Musician of 2014. Mr Bartlett performed the piece Burlesque by Arnold Bax, who was The Queen's first Master of the Queen's Music.
Prayers were also read for The Queen and among those asked to take part was Hilda Price, a 90-year-old widow who shares her birthday with the monarch.
She was joined by five others who also read prayers, each of the five representing an aspect of The Queen's life from the law to the armed forces, the Commonwealth, her Royal Household and her love of horses.
After the service, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended a lunch for visiting Governors-General, which was hosted by The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Governors-General are The Queen’s representatives in Commonwealth Realms.
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