The Dean's lunch speech

Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness

It has been a privilege and pleasure for the Dean and Chapter to welcome you to this celebration of the anniversary of the Royal Charter that has governed collegiate life here for the past 450 years. We are particularly grateful that you have spent time here at the Abbey, opened the new education centre and visited the School.

Today, we have prayed together. The whole collegiate body gathers from time to time to pray together. Now we have eaten together in College Hall. Where better? To pray together and eat together is what makes a truly collegiate life. Sadly it is particularly rare for the whole collegiate body to eat together. But here we are: the lay vicars and choristers with their Master and Headmaster; the Queen’s Scholars with their Master and the Head Master and Under Master of Westminster School; the advisers and senior staff of the Abbey with the Dean and Chapter. And all, if I may say so, crowned with your presence Ma’am as The Visitor.

You joined the Dean and Chapter for a meal in 1993, but it was in 1966 that you were last in College Hall for a meal. On that occasion, 6th July, you dined with some members of the College to celebrate the 900 years of Edward the Confessor’s Abbey. There is one person, I am told, besides Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness present on both occasions. John Nixon was in 1966 a chorister here. He is here today as a long-serving lay vicar; he is the choir’s librarian.

I talked at the service about continuity. We have a great sense of history and of continuity here at the Abbey. Occasions such as these remind us of what endures. Your gracious presence completes our collegiate circle and focuses our minds on the importance of dutiful service.

Your Majesty, we have loyally drunk your health. I now wish to propose the health of the Collegiate Foundation of St Peter in Westminster. I invite members of College to be upstanding.

The College!