A few months ago I wrote a piece for the Magazine on the occasion of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and now we are all getting over and coming to terms with the death of our longest serving monarch, her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the accession to the throne of her son, King Charles III. It has been an incredible period in our nation’s, and the world’s, history and one which none of us will ever be able to forget I shouldn’t think.

We have, no doubt, all been watching the unfolding events following the Queen’s death – the journey from Scotland to London, the lying in state in Westminster Hall and, of course, the State Funeral in Westminster Abbey and the final resting place of her late Majesty in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. It has been quite a journey, and an incredible story. I was struck especially by the dignity and simplicity of the short ceremony which preceded the lying in state in Westminster Hall, and also by the State Funeral in the Abbey – and the very poignant, and admirably brief, sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury! The images also of the hundreds of thousands of people lining the streets to pay their respects has I’m sure made an impact on people all across the world.

During these last few weeks we have been reminded on numerous occasions that behind the pomp and the ceremony and the sheer pageantry of it all there is a grieving family, mourning the death of a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. This is of course very true, and so I was especially pleased when, during his short sermon in Westminster Abbey on the occasion of the State Funeral, the Archbishop of Canterbury referred very directly to the many families across the nation, and indeed the world, who were themselves mourning the loss of loved ones at the same time as were members of the Royal Family. For the few days before and after the State Funeral we were, in this Parish, dealing with four weddings and a funeral, all of which were terribly important in the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people, and all of which went ahead, to the great relief of all those concerned. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is exactly what her late Majesty the Queen would have wanted, and it was a joy and a privilege, albeit a very sad one in the case of the funeral, for myself and Christina to have conducted these services, which were very much appreciated by all concerned.

And so, as the reign of King Charles III begins – a new chapter in our history – let us commit ourselves afresh to the example set for all of us by his late Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in loving service and joyful commitment in faith, giving thanks to God, who was her, and is our, rock.

God save our gracious King,

Long live our noble King,

God save the King.

Amen.

The Revd Alec Brown.