The life of The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated at Service of Thanksgiving

About the service

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who said in his Bidding:

‘His was a discipline and character that seized opportunity and overcame obstruction and difficulty. We recall, with affection and respect, the sustained offering of a long life lived fully. Acknowledging our loss, we turn to the God who is our help for He will renew our hope. In grateful remembrance of The Prince Philip, we then commit ourselves to live as he lived, in faith, in the service of Her Majesty, and with a greater reverence for our world and our neighbours.’

The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO, Dean of Windsor, gave the Address.

Readings were given by:

• The Right Honourable the Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
• The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London and Dean of Her Majesty’s Chapels Royal

The Most Reverend and the Right Honourable Justin Welby, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, gave the Blessing.

The service was sung by the Choirs of Westminster Abbey and Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, directed by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers.

The organ was played by Peter Holder, Sub-Organist.

Listen

Tribute

The Tribute was delivered by Doyin Sonibare, a Gold Award holder from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Address 

The Address was given by The Right Reverend David Conner, Dean of Windsor.

Watch

You can watch the service via the BBC iPlayer (UK only) until March 2023.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Abbey

The Duke of Edinburgh had a long association with Westminster Abbey.

On 20th November 1947, he married HRH Princess Elizabeth here (she became Queen in 1952), and they celebrated anniversaries including their Silver, Golden and Diamond Wedding anniversaries with services in the Abbey.

In 1956 he set up the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the 60th anniversary of which was celebrated at a special service in November 2016. He was also President and Chairman of the Westminster Abbey Trust, set up in 1973, to raise funds for the restoration of the exterior of the Abbey.

For many years, His Royal Highness attended the annual Opening of the Field of Remembrance. Organised each year by The Poppy Factory, the Field of Remembrance sees thousands of poppies on wooden crosses and memorials, each representing a serviceman or servicewoman who has died in conflict, planted in the grounds of the Abbey.

He also attended a great many other services and events at the Abbey over the years.

Order of Service

Order of Service for The Duke of Edinburgh Thanksgiving Service (PDF, 927KB)