Sixty Joyless De-Britished Uncrowned Commonpoor Years (1949-2009)

Elizabeth II Vice-Regal Saint: Remembering Paul Comtois (1895–1966), Lt.-Governor of Québec
Britannic Inheritance: Britain's proud legacy. What legacy will America leave?
English Debate: Daniel Hannan revels in making mince meat of Gordon Brown
Crazy Canucks: British MP banned from Canada on national security grounds
Happy St. Patrick's: Will Ireland ever return to the Commonwealth?
Voyage Through the Commonwealth: World cruise around the faded bits of pink.
No Queen for the Green: The Green Party of Canada votes to dispense with monarchy.
"Sir Edward Kennedy": The Queen has awarded the senator an honorary Knighthood.
President Obama: Hates Britain, but is keen to meet the Queen?
The Princess Royal: Princess Anne "outstanding" in Australia.
H.M.S. Victory: In 1744, 1000 sailors went down with a cargo of gold.
Queen's Commonwealth: Britain is letting the Commonwealth die.
Justice Kirby: His support for monarchy almost lost him appointment to High Court
Royal Military Academy: Sandhurst abolishes the Apostles' Creed.
Air Marshal Alec Maisner, R.I.P. Half Polish, half German and 100% British.
Cherie Blair: Not a vain, self regarding, shallow thinking viper after all.
Harry Potter: Celebrated rich kid thinks the Royals should not be celebrated
The Royal Jelly: A new king has been coronated, and his subjects are in a merry mood
Victoria Cross: Australian TROOPER MARK DONALDSON awarded the VC
Godless Buses: Royal Navy veteran, Ron Heather, refuses to drive his bus
Labour's Class War: To expunge those with the slightest pretensions to gentility
100 Top English Novels of All Time: The Essential Fictional Library
BIG BEN: Celebrating 150 Years of the Clock Tower

Thursday 3 April 2008

The Laying Up of Sir Edmund's Banner

The Queen arrived at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary, KG, 2 April 2008. The Queen's association with Sir Edmund stretches back to the announcement of his ascent of Mount Everest on the eve of Her Majesty's coronation, 2 June, 1953. He was knighted by The Queen for this achievement in the same year.

713242The Royal Ghurka's line the steps to St. George's Chapel following the Service. The Countess of Wessex, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Gloucester and the Prime Minister of New Zealand also attended the Service of Thanksgiving. Sir Edmund was created a Knight of the Garter in 1995 and the Service included the "laying up" of his banner in the Chapel.

713246The Queen greets Lady Hillary following the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Sir Edmund Hillary, KG in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, 2 April 2008. The Chapel is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, of which Sir Edmund was created a Knight by Her Majesty in 1995.

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2 comments:

Beaverbrook said...

I hope this lovely event sold the right amount of media attention Down Under. A State Funeral and now a Service of Thanksgiving by the Kiwi Queen. New Zealanders have been deservingly spoiled.

Anonymous said...

She didn't come to the funeral. No one from the royal family did. Hence the service in London.