The National Service of Thanksgiving Live Coverage The Queen's 90th Birthday

A 90th birthday is a big moment for anyone and any family.

And when that individual is a figurehead for the

United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, it really is a very

So it's time for a very special celebration.

And where better to have it than the front garden

A very good morning to you from the middle

Yes, we really have taken up residence on the lake,

And for this special weekend they're allowing us to share it.

On the 21st April this year, the Queen became the first British

monarch to celebrate a 90th birthday and,

since then, the party hasn't stopped.

Not only is Her Majesty the longest-serving British monarch

in history, but also the longest-living,

Today we begin a weekend of events on Her Majesty's official birthday

to mark this unique occasion and we are right in the heart

Behind me is The Mall, hidden from view

by the magnificent trees here in St.

And The Mall, of course, is where our nation has

gathered for so many significant ceremonial events.

But it's fair to say it hasn't ever hosted an event quite like the one

coming up on Sunday afternoon when 10,000 people will sit down

Fingers crossed for the weather to behave itself.

Before the world's biggest picnic on Sunday, however,

at the other end of The Mall on Horse Guards Parade,

we'll witness the pomp, pageantry and true splendour

We'll be bringing you live and exclusive coverage of all these

national celebrations throughout the next three days,

along with our special highlights programs each evening.

There really is so much to look forward to.

And we start today with the National Service of Thanksgiving

As you would expect on such a significant day, there are some

special additions to the Service and some special guests

Huw Edwards is at St Paul's Cathedral to tell us more.

Good morning. Welcome to St Paul's. The mother church of the diocese of

London. There have been of course many notable services of

Thanksgiving here over the years but there has never been an occasion

like today is because, as you were saying, Kirsty, no reigning British

monarch has ever reached the age of 90 so this cathedral, not for the

first time in its eventful life, is again making history. We have a

National Service of thanksgiving to mark the 90th birthday of Her

Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. It is a Service of Thanksgiving, meant to be

an uplifting service and soon the cathedral will be filled with a

combination of 2000 people all invited because I have some

connection with the Queen or something special to contribute to

the service. Her Majesty will not be the only 90 old present. Others will

include the author, Michael Bond, author of the books on Paddington

Bear. He has provided one of the readings which will be delivered by

Sir David Attenborough today who recently celebrated his 90th

birthday. We also have held a price with us, a retired teacher from

Cardiff who was born on the same day as the cream -- Hilde price. 20 of

links and bombs here today. They will all make a contribution to the

service. The service will be notable for the presence of the Royal

family, 53 members here, the biggest gathering of recent years. And we

are also expecting some prominent political leaders, past and present

including the Prime Minister David Cameron, arriving in a few minutes

time, the newly elected Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan will also be

present, Tony Blair, Sir John Major, former Prime Minister, current and

past leaders of the Armed Forces will be present, Commonwealth

representatives, religious leaders from many different faiths, all

reflecting the wide diversity of British society in 2016. As we see

the sublime vista of Saint Paul's here and the great organ, just a

reminder that with this glorious musical tradition have a feast of

music all in the safe hands of Andrew Cawood, the director of music

before, during and after the service, plenty to look forward to.

More on that later. For now, Kirsty, back to you. Thanks, Huw.

The celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday began months ago,

even before her actual birthday in April.

It seemed that almost as soon as 2016 began,

the metaphorical balloons and bunting were up and Her Majesty

couldn't go anywhere without well-wishers belting out

Let's take a look back at just some of the events she has

And, as you'll see, it's been something of a year

I'm joined now in the studio by Royal Correspondent Katie Nicholl.

Commanding Officer of the Coldstream Guards Lieutenant

And supporter of the Patron's Lunch, Ainsley Harriott.

Well come to you all. A day of commemoration and a weekend of

celebration and, Katie, what can be forward to over the next three days?

I think what Britain does best. Today is the religious part of the

celebrations and I think it will be very important to the Queen and so

many members of their family turning out, but of course there will be all

the pomp and pageantry and everything Britain does best and

which you are in charge of tomorrow with Trooping the Colour and in the

world's biggest picnic. The MoU will be transformed into one huge extra

long trestle table, picnic tables, bunting, I think they have it

everything. -- Mall people often say to me why do they have two

birthdays? Because she is the Queen and why not? It dates back to about

250 years ago where if you were a king or Queen born in December for

example, a national celebration in freezing cold conditions was not

going to happen so that was always going to be a case for a June

celebration when we hope the weather is going to be much better. The

Queen was born in April and had a wonderful birthday celebration in

April. I was in Windsor, the sun was out, glorious. We have to keep

everything crossed the weather will behave this weekend. The last thing

you needed was to be bundled into a television studio with a microphone

because it got plenty in your head I'm sure. Tomorrow is a very big day

for you. Just explain why. If the Queen's Birthday Parade tomorrow.

Trooping the Colour. I will be in command of the trade tomorrow. We

have done a lot of preparation for it. We are really looking forward to

what we hope will be a very special parade which we are Household

Division can deliver for Her Majesty. So much for you to remember

for tomorrow. The eyes of the world will be upon you. Have you slept

much this week? Yes, I've done all right. Trooping the Colour, explain

to us were not in the military and don't know that much about the

military, what is the colour? The colour represents battle honours,

representing all those who have gone before us, our forebears. It goes

back to ancient times where the colour would be trooped through the

ranks, the rallying point for the soldiers. It will be explained on

the television tomorrow. You will see, as the colour is trooped

through the ranks, the soldiers would know where to focus and

recognise and ultimately protect at all costs. In terms of the position

of tomorrow's event, it is literally timed to the second? We spend a lot

of time practising to make sure the timings are right, hopefully Her

Majesty will arrive at the clock chimes 11 at Horse Guards Parade and

there's a lot of synchronisation getting it right. She is known for

her punctuality. I don't think she will disappoint. Let's talk about

the Patron's Lunch. 10,000 people. That's quite an operation. It a lot

of people. A lot of people to feed and they all get their own bespoke

hampers, which is really, really exciting. They are all associated

with the Queen 's patronage of 600 charities, in some way connected, so

there is a bonding there. We constantly talk about people getting

together and celebrating this great occasion. This is a chance for

communities, not only in the Mall, we've spoken about the great party

happening there, but people across the country. You can enjoy yourself,

embrace the occasion, because it's so special. There are street parties

all over the country. Absolutely. I know you've cooked a lot of

important people over the decades. Have you cooked for the Queen? Yes,

delighted. Many occasions, the first at Kensington Palace, when the late

Princess Margaret was alive and I used to go down there and prepare

food. It was lovely. My sister is coming over today, lovely. Were you

given direction on what to cook? Yes but a lot of people expect that you

want something elaborate and quite often it's a very plain, because

most of their lives are controlled, going off to quite elaborate

occasions, occasionally just today but I have a very if you like plain

food, it's a nice thing for the salmon, potatoes and leaks.

Delicious. We will be talking to you again and we wish you the very best

of luck, not that you need it, for tomorrow, because we will all be

watching. Well it promises to be a weekend

that will live in the public memory At St Paul's Cathedral,

people are getting ready to begin Sonali Shah is with two people lucky

enough to be playing I am indeed, Kirsty. Prayers will be

read by people who represent different aspects of the Queen 's

life and roll. Tamara is a member of the Armed Forces. How does it feel

to represent not just your regiment but all of the Armed Forces here on

such a big occasion, an unprecedented occasion in British

history? I'm really proud to be able to take part in this activity and,

you know, being part of the cadets and my regiment, the oldest, it

means a lot to us, the Royal Family, and they are really connected to the

Armed Forces and they are proud to represent us. They have such a deep

connection, not just the Queen but her extended family, too. That must

make it extra special. What was your reaction when you found out you are

going to be part of the service today? I was in pure shock. When the

Sergeant asked if I wanted to take part in the event I was like, yes,

definitely. I don't think no would be a good answer there. As society

evolves, there's so much discussion about women, the role of women and

breaking down barriers women can achieve with that in mind, how much

does the Queen mean to a young woman, you're 15, like yourself in

today's society? I think the Queen is iconic when it comes to

representing female power, especially we are not used to

females in power so having the Queen being head of state is really

important for young girls like me. I know Tamara you have read inside St

Paul's Cathedral before so the best of luck with your reading today.

Thank you. Thank you. young girl of only 25

when she became Queen, and so began a relentless path

of lifelong duty and service, As Queen, she is Head of State,

Head of the Commonwealth, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed

Forces and Supreme Governor We spoke to some leading figures

to hear what her role means to them My first meeting with Her Majesty

was in about the late 1980s. I'd been invited to come

to the Palace and to be one Meeting the Queen is surprisingly

informal. I mean, in terms of the weekly

meetings that I had with the Queen as Prime Minister, there were just

the two of us present Nobody made a record

of the meetings. It was simply a meeting

between two people and that was Sometimes I think cathartic as well

at the most difficult of times, because here was someone

to whom you could say absolutely anything and be

absolutely confident that it The first time I met her

was as a very, very young athlete. She would not have had any idea

who I was and I was at the back of about 150 people that she had

already spoken to and she asked very specific questions

about my sporting career. And, at that moment,

I remember thinking, "Wow, Now, later on, she might

have had a bit more idea And that has always stuck with me

for the whole of my life. I saw her a few days ago

and I realised my pulse was up. I was just holding

myself a bit straighter. Apprehensive is the wrong word,

but very acutely aware This is someone who you always feel

it is a huge privilege to meet. The time that I'm most had to talk

to her and required wisdom and advice and authority

from her was when we were first thinking of deploying

Prince Harry to Afghanistan. Because she's the Queen,

because he was in line to the throne, I had to talk

through the possible deployment with her and she was very thoughtful

and considered that and realised that we'd weighed up the risks

and gave us authority to proceed. But we would never have proceeded

without her authority, without her knowing exactly

what we were going to do. I think the sense of service

to the British nation and the Commonwealth is absolutely

central to the Queen's perception And perhaps to the Queen's

perception herself. This is what you measure

service against. Just going on year by year,

doing the right thing, and I think any other head of state

in the world would look at this and say that's the standard

for genuine commitment and service. The Queen has earned her position

and earned the love that is felt for her within the Commonwealth

because, on any occasion, when the Commonwealth

needed Her Majesty, And she stood up for the small,

for the weak, for the disadvantaged and she hasn't hesitated to make

sure that we all understand what she expects and

she expects the best. It is absolutely clear

that Christian faith It is those things as well,

but it's not a habit. It is something that is so deeply

within who she is that it guides Where else in the world

is there a couple who still undertake the service

and duties of the Queen She has been around in public life

longer than any of us. I don't think in this world

there is a better example of someone who serves her people in order

to win and earn the right She could have gone and sat

with her feet up and done something very different at this

point in her life. It's quite extraordinary,

all those years of service to her country and to her faith,

she hasn't faltered. With me now in the studio

are the Queen's former and royal biographer

Gyles Brandreth. Welcome to you all. Charles Anson,

let's for a moment to concentrate on this aspect of the Queen 's faith,

even that we are going to St Paul's and the Service of Thanksgiving is

up heart of receding today. -- is at the heart of proceedings. When I

speak to people who know the Queen, they say that her faith is central

to what motivates her, would you chime in with that? I would agree

completely, her face is part of her role as head of state and sovereign,

and the Violet the coronation to serve her people was taken at

Westminster Abbey. -- and the vow the coronation. She has a strong

faith, like so much of the Queen it is private, but it is a thread

through her life and you feel it each day, the columnist with which

she approaches setbacks, the way in which she is devoted to duty, there

is a great face and it is a comfort in a public role. We saw some public

figures talking about their version of the Queen, what they believe

about her. You say her face is so personal to her, yet here she is

today in a very public setting, at a service that is entirely personal to

her -- you say her faith is so personal to her. She is at St Paul's

as head of state and head of the Anglican Church. With that public

role there is a very genuine religious faith. There is never a

Sunday that she misses going to church, even if it is in the middle

of the jungle in Guiana, I remember, in a church with people with bare

feet and no walls. Baroness Floella Benjamin, let's talk about the

public at the private. At the State Opening of Parliament in the Lords,

you see the Queen process and everything that goes with it, but

you met her at Exeter University. How does the public and personal

contrast? I was very surprised how in June she is with human spirit,

the body language that she gives off when she meets somebody -- how in

tune she is. She draws into people, she is very engaging and asks so

many questions. I feel she is like a walking encyclopaedia. She has

knowledge about so many different cultures, people, parts of the

world, I was really impressed by her sincerity. She really likes to get

the crux of the matter, to find out about people and to give them a

feeling of comfort, I loved her for that. Charles Brandreth, interesting

to hear the former Prime Minister John Major talk about the golden

moments, the private audience. She has seen Prime Minister 's come and

go. They know it is precious, it will not be leaked and they have her

confidence and cancel? It is a sounding board, they love it. When

you talk to the Queen about prime ministers, she asks which country

she is referring to, she has had 32 realms and can give you the prime

ministers of Canada, Australia, places in the West Indies. She is

used to meeting these people. The first of her dozen prime ministers

was Winston Churchill, I think he looms largest, she was 25, he was an

old man, he had been her father 's closest friend and ally during the

war. He had dangled her on his knee in the 1920s. That was a special

Prime Minister. The only other Prime Minister whose funeral she attended

was Margaret Thatcher. It is often said she had reservations about

Margaret Thatcher, I do not think that was so. James Callaghan said to

me, I said, you must have got to know the Queen while, he said that

the senior royals offer you friendliness, not friendship, but

very useful all the same. Everybody has the audience, most people value

and cherish it as Prime Minister, but there are those that stay for

drinks after and those that don't, there is the time afterwards weather

stays are loosened? It depends on the personality of the Prime

Minister. She was said to enjoy the company of Harold Wilson, who would

have been 100 this year, more, perhaps, than Edward Heath, who

would also have been 100 this year and is stickier to get to know. She

tried to tease Edward Heath. Whenever I meet her, she can do it

as if to make me feel relaxed, it makes me feel awkward, she can do

with both hands. That is not a bad impression! You will not impersonate

everybody this morning? Charles, in the private audiences, there is no

Parliamentary Private Secretary or other private secretaries, no

records, surely that is essential for the fluidity and the relaxed

setting? That's right, never anyone else there, no notes are taken.

There is a bit of an agenda agreed with number ten, there would be

follow-up afterwards. I think most prime ministers have a drink with

the Queen's Private Secretary afterwards, and if things need to be

followed up they are. What do they drink? It could be anything, gin and

tonic, a glass of wine... Prime ministers take taken seriously.

Margaret Thatcher made sure to arrive, if it was at Windsor Castle,

to arrive well in advance, she would have her car parked in a lay-by two

to -- for 20 minutes to make sure she was not later. She is a stickler

the time. Even at the State Opening of Parliament, the clock strikes the

hour and you had to be there, if you are not, there is a look on her face

which says, why not? And quite right. For now, the clock is ticking

for me to get back to St Paul's Cathedral.

Huw is there. Simple is Cathedral, as we know, so often the focal point

for national Thanksgiving. -- St Paul's Cathedral. At times it is the

focal point for national mourning. Today it is about Thanksgiving. The

Queen officially marked her Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Diamond Jubilee

in 2012, with thanksgiving services here at St Paul's. This is the home,

if you like, of national Thanksgiving. Much of the

congregation is now in place. They have been a little slow to drift in

this morning, I think it is fair to say, but lots are here together.

They have enjoyed a recital by the sub organist at St Paul's, Peter

Holder. He will not play for the service, that'll be Simon Johnson,

organist and assistant director of music.

Can I remind some of you that if you want continuous streams coverage of

events at St Paul's without our interviews, if that is what you

want, you can select the red button coverage, which starts at ten

o'clock, in about three minutes. What I would like to do, as we enjoy

the sublime architecture of the cathedral, is tell you a little bit

about the content of this special service today. In effect, we have

three birthday gifts for the Queen in the form of specially

commissioned performances. There is one of the clues for you,

the grand piano is in place, because Martin James Bartlett, familiar to

many people as the winner of BBC Young musician of the year 2014, a

brilliant young pianist from Hornchurch in Essex, Martin James

Bartlett will perform later for the Queen, he will be playing Burlesque

performance by Arnold Bax. Arnold Bax was the master of the Queen's

music at the time of the Coronation in 1953.

There we have the current master of the Queen's music, Judith Weir, she

has composed an anthem for this service, the musical setting of a

poem written by Robert Bridges. He was poet Laureate when the Queen was

born. You begin to see these blocks which are very firm links with

different parts of the different phases of the Queen's rein. The

third gift will be a reading by broadcaster Sir David Attenborough,

who arrived a few minutes ago. -- the Queen's reign. Sir David was

absolutely buzzing, celebrating his 90th birthday last month, he will be

reading Reflection On The Passing Of Years, by the author Michael Bond,

who is chatting to him this year. Famous author of the Paddington

books, he is also 90 this year. A lovely representation of people who

share the same age as the Queen. Baroness Scotland has just arrived,

we saw her in the film short while ago, representing the Commonwealth.

She was explaining her links with the Queen in recent. She was elected

dignitary general in April this year. A remarkable story, born in

Dominica, the tenth of 12 children, the first black woman to become a QC

in the UK in 1991 and later Attorney General. Many others who I will

introduce you to later, in the meantime, back to Kirsty.

It's fair to say that even in this age of giddying celebrity,

Her Majesty is one of the most recognisable women in the world.

Over the course of her 90 years she has had her photo

One of the most famous images of recent times was taken

His photograph, taken for The Queen's 90th birthday,

and featuring not one but three future Kings, will be for many,

one of the stand-out memories of this birthday year.

We brought together Ranald, and fellow Royal Photographers Fiona

Hanson who took the Queen's 80th birthday portrait, and the newspaper

photographer Arthur Edwards, to discuss just a few of the Queen's

There must be millions of pictures taken of the Queen.

I must have taken a million myself over the years.

She's luminously beautiful.

And she still a beautiful woman.

1928 that picture was taken, and probably got one shot of it.

There is a touch of her dignity even at that age.

And she was two and yet she knew exactly what to do.

I love the shot because for me it's so topsy-turvy.

The perspective is all wrong with that background,

I think the Queen looks like a supermodel

It's a picture I'm very proud of and this chap, John Bellis,

who was a D-Day veteran, he said, "Did you used

to drive 27-tonne trucks when you were in the army?"

And the Queen said nothing but looked across at the trucks.

But John thought she hadn't heard him so he gave her a nudge.

And of course he's quite deaf and shouted at her,

She said, "No, no, it was rather too big for me."

There is this protocol you mustn't touch the Queen,

He is obviously just so full of the moment for him

A very natural spontaneous shared moment and, even though

it's a public event, it's a very personal moment.

This was the photograph I took of the Queen opening her 80th

And I was trying to think how I could get her to look that way

naturally without having to ask the Queen to smile,

so I asked her lovely Press Secretary if she would stand

in the curtains and Penny did a very good job of hiding behind

the curtain, so when the Queen sat down and Penny said something,

she looked round and laughed at her hiding in the curtains,

The one great thing about this picture, over all the years,

when we're waiting for the Queen to turn up on engagements,

people have a guess at what colour she's wearing and I'd say,

"I know one thing she'll definitely be wearing is three

And every picture, every picture she wears those pearls.

She must go to bed in them because I've never seen

Essentially I wanted to create a warm family portrait with a big

but in that I had a very specific format and technical

constraints to achieve alongside getting a portrait,

because the actual image needed to include four usable stamps.

I needed to have each of the subjects' heads at a certain

distance apart otherwise it just wasn't going to work,

so we had four visits to the Palace to find the room,

to find the arrangements and then the day before we did

the shoot I was allowed in to set up my lights,

so I was pretty much, 95% there before we started.

Of course, the star of the show, there, is not the Queen,

How did you get him to smile like that?

I had a few bits and bobs that I jangled and shook.

As you know, with children, you get a pretty short window.

You've done an absolutely storming job there.

You could have been very, very unlucky having somebody blink

You've captured it all there, the Queen and the three

Do you know if the Royal Family passed any comment on it?

The Queen had actually been involved in the process leading up

and approved what we wanted to do, so I think we got

In my view, I think that's the best picture we've seen today.

Welcome back to the studio to the Queen's former press

secretary Charles Anson and royal correspondent Katie Nicholl.

And joining us is the Queen of Fleet Street, Eve Pollard.

Tiles, first of all, you were free good long time the Queen's Press

Secretary. Let's talk the moment about those many images. She has

probably had a photograph taken millions and millions of times.

There is this strange tension between the fact that we know her,

she is also unknown and that public projection. Why is that important? I

think nowadays you live so much in a goldfish bowl in public life and no

one more than the Queen is known over the world, but managed to keep

a sort of privacy, and mystery about her. We still don't know really

watching thinks on great matters of public issue. But she manages to

have both this very public role and a sort of privacy and I think a

mystery around monarchy which is very important. She herself said in

the beginning, I must be seen to be believed, so she's very conscious

that the world must see her but conscious as the head of state the

world must not really know watching thinks. That's right, as a

constitutional monarchy has to remain neutral. Therefore, she's not

on public stage announcing policies. So what is the point if she goes to

the United States and travels in a limousine and has blacked out

windows? That sort of thing leaves the Queen to say, I must be seen,

what is the point otherwise? That is where the tension is for members of

the press, because on the one hand there was a fascination and a thirst

for knowledge by the public and we want to see the images, but we also

want to know what lies behind them. Is that difficult when you're

writing about and on monarchy? Yes, I think it is, but the Queen has

always managed to get that balance right. I think she understands

public better than anyone that part of the magic of monarchy is the

mystique and the mystery and the allure and yet, we are in a

different generation from when she first came to the throne. We are in

an age where no one doesn't have a camera on their phone and the young

royals always going to be photographed out and about. It's

something they often resent but I think there was an understanding

that they all need to be seen to be believed and to be understood. That

magic and mystery and allure, as you say, it is a different set of

circumstances with the younger royals. They live in the time they

live in and have the friends they have and the expectations are there

that they are much more touchy-feely. They are the Twitter

generation. Does the Queen have to step up to the mark on that one?

Yes, I think she does and she has. She has joined Twitter and has 2

million followers, she sent her first message a few years ago, so

she's up there in terms of modernisation batches managed to

retain a sense of tradition and protocol and hierarchy we expect of

the Queen but you do expect it to be different of the younger generation

and I think they do a good job of it. Eve Pollard, I did not know the

Queen was on Twitter. I need to get on the technology. Are you not one

of her followers? I will be now. What about the way the Queen has

managed the known and the unknown throughout his 64 year reign? She

has been bravely unscrewed above. You see this wonderful smiling face

and I have met several times, I'm very lucky, but you don't know what

she's thinking and I properly should mention there was a programme on

Sunday evening... Don't worry, I was going to mention. You're doing a

programme about the Queen's top ten. No, I love the press, I was once a

member, but we don't do the top ten. What we did, we had an idea that we

don't have anything about the Queen's musical tastes, and we made

all the over jewels to Buckingham Palace who were extraordinarily

helpful and lovely, -- over jewels and I think the Queen enjoyed this.

The result is refined the Queen doesn't like arcana strange music

but likes the songs we all alike, so we start the programme with Someone

To Watch Over Me which she loves and it's rather true. She has been

watching over us. You didn't talk to her, but how'd you know? Sadly not,

but I spoke to their cousins, family, people who were lacking up

to go to picnics by the side of Balmoral. Where the Royals cook and

have a barbecue? There are three nice days in Scotland, possibly

more. Careful! They barbecue and then they have a singsong. That was

fascinating. The Queen comes from the generation where you did not

turn on the television, you made your own entertainment. The Queen

Mother was one of ten children living in a castle, so you had to

enjoy yourself, but had to have fun, and so they liked charades,

sardines, famous story about a man feeling a woman behind a curtain,

his hands running up and down trying to guess who it was. I was going to

say, careful. This is a day of commemoration. There is a wonderful

photograph I was looking at earlier today of the Queen and the Duke

dancing in the very early days. That is a remarkable picture. I've never

seen such an unguarded pose, really. That's not the Duke of Edinburgh's

favourite shirt, I don't think. They were doing line dancing in Canada

but she learned to foxtrot, quick step, waltz, she loves to dance, she

does the Samba, and all the Royals join into the sing songs and they

are all the songs we all know. That is what is so wonderful about the

programme. Your programme is Radio 2 on Sunday evening. As you listen to

us speculating and projecting and saying this is her favourite, she

likes this, she always does that, as a former Press Secretary, do you sit

there and think none of them know what they are talking about? No, I

think what you have said is absolutely right. The Queen loves

music. She's grown up since a little girl reeling and Scottish dancing.

At the ball in Balmoral, she will be dancing with everybody on the floor,

whether it's a member of her family or one of the deer stalkers and

staff and everybody's invited. This glorious pictures of her not on

Britannia but at one of the destroyers early on, reeling and

playing games and so on. I meant to deer stalkers. Totally repeatable.

There's going to be a range of political leaders at St Paul's

Cathedral and Huw Professor Elliott this morning, past and present. One

of them took office a few weeks ago, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London and

I think he is with Sonali now. I'm with Sadiq Khan. They have been many

notable services at St Paul's Cathedral but none quite like this.

It's a privilege and an honour for me to be here to celebrate the

Queen's 90th birthday. This is a great way to start a weekend of

celebrations, to celebrate her remarkable life. Your earliest

memory of the Queen was her silver jubilee in 1977. It is, and it is a

photograph of me as a six-year-old. I have a crown on my head. Thanks,

mum. A little flag, my mum and brother and sister, friends and

neighbours come on the streets as the Queen and his wine strode past.

We had a great day, we partied, we had jam sandwiches and it was great.

It's that sort of atmosphere the Queen creates because we are so

proud of her, she's the Queen, and hopefully this weekend we will see

millions celebrate her birthday. You are striking quite a pose with your

blue trousers and white shirt and crime, very confident. The Queen has

not changed a bit since then and I hope people say I have, fashion

wise. She is the Queen, and just think about her remarkable

remarkable years, the changes she has sheen. She is London's Queen,

the countries Queen, but the Commonwealth Queen, the changes into

how the city is changed, she was our hero during the Blitz, the Queen who

gave the England team the World Cup in 1966, she famously of course

jumped out of an aeroplane with James Bond and we love her and I'm

looking forward to celebrating her life during the service and also

having a great time this weekend. London is such a mix of people, a

melting pot of people. What you think she means to Londoners? Let me

give you one story. I was with a seven-year-old from Brixton last

week, and she was telling me with such pride that she gave the Queen

about Kay of flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show. That's seven-year-old

girl will never forget meeting the Queen, I still remember because you

reminded me as a sexual wearing a crown as she drove past, I've met

the Queen and I still get goose bumps on the back of my neck, you

can still look like a bumbling buffoon, that we love her, and she

had an extraordinary life of extraordinary service, and long may

it continue. That's what we'll be celebrating today. Enjoy the

service. Thank you very much, Sadiq Khan. The Mayor of London, Sadiq

Khan talking to Sonali and looking forward to this National Service of

thanksgiving. I'm delighted that next to me looking forward to the

service is Robert Hardman, the Daily Mail journalist and while

commentator. What are looking forward to? Something very personal

and obviously the grand year of a state occasion, yes, it's her

birthday, but she is a Queen who was quite modest and shy. She does not

want this to be all about her, so we won't see the grandees of the racing

industry, the European Royals, but all the people who do so much for

the country, here we can see some of the more remote cousins we don't

normally see. The children of the Duke of Kent, for example. Zara

Phillips with her husband, Mike Tindall. It's very much a family

affair. More than 50 members of the family are here. More members of the

family than we will see tomorrow on the balcony at the Birthday Parade,

which is normally the occasion for the biggest day, but also we will

see all these people chosen by Lord Lieutenants from all over the

country, many monarchs, if you like to represent each county. Government

departments. It's a cross-section of life, very much the atmosphere of a

garden party at Buckingham Palace without the chocolate eclairs

perhaps. With a few hymns instead. There is somebody with a very busy

weekend ahead. Peter Phillips, he is in charge of the Patron's Lunch, the

extraordinary street party on Sunday which will see probably the longest

trestle table you have ever seen, stretching from Buckingham Palace

with around 10,000 people sitting at it. Fingers crossed for the weather.

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall taking their places at the front. It

was interesting to see so many close relatives of the Queen arriving by

coach. Some years ago, I am sure they would have arrived by a

motorcade of limousines, but modern times and traffic demand economy of

travel. There were five coaches parked on the palace forecourt this

morning, and they are still arriving.

So our first contingent of royal guest, and a little later we will be

expecting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Prince of Wales, the

Duchess of Cornwall and, of course, a couple of minutes before the

service is due to start, Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

In the meantime, we have been looking at the people arriving,

including some heads of the Armed Forces. They have been arriving in

the last few minutes, including the Chief of the Defence Staff and the

chief of the General staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Chief of the

Defence Staff, and General Sir Nicholas Carter, we can see on the

left, appointed chief of the General staff, head of the Army, in 2014.

Admiral Sir Philip Jones is in the congregation, as is General Sir

Christopher Deverell. Plenty of politicians, although Mr

Speaker, of course, is strictly impartial. John Bercow has just

taken his seat. He will be sitting next to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn,

when he arrives in a few minutes. David Cameron will be arriving, he

is taking part in the service, ahead of -- and there are former prime

ministers John Major and Tony Blair as well. In terms of the underlining

diversity of the United Kingdom in 2016, there is a very big

representation of faith leaders. Representing all religious sects in

the UK today, not just the mainstream ones, if I can call them

that, in terms of the Roman Catholic Church and once we are very familiar

with, but some very, very important people, including the British Muslim

Council, the Chief Rabbi, all of this underlining the nature of the

service? This service is Christian intone unstructured, but the Queen,

more than any other monarch or supreme Governor of the church,

which she is, has engaged with every faith in the country. It is

incredibly important and much valued by all those faiths. This is the

first moniker to set foot inside a temple, a Moscow, to host and visit

the Vatican -- is is the first monarch to set foot in a temple or a

mosque. This is very important to the Queen, she will have been

through the service. There is new music, but she will have taken watch

on this. The Bishop of London is waiting patiently, and the

Archbishop of Canterbury on the left, Justin Welby. They will be

greeting the main group -- main guests as they arrive, including the

Prime Minister and the Lord Mayor of London, whose job it is to greet the

sovereign at the boundary of the City of London. So the Lord Mayor of

London and the lack there of London, Sadiq Khan. -- and the elected Mayor

of London. On Ludgate Hill we will see a fleet of cars arriving. Some

of the royal party is arriving in buses, others accorded a rather

different form of transport. There is a certain pecking order in how

people are getting here today. This is the more senior members of the

family, obviously, arriving ahead of the Queen. They are all very

familiar with St Paul's, there have been so many state occasions, both

sad and happy ones. Each time, there is really a buzz at these moments.

People gather on Ludgate Hill. You see all the step lines, you have

every military units with which the Queen has a personal connection, an

enormous amount of thought has gone into making sure that this is a

reflection of all acts -- aspect of the Queen's life, and the servers

that she represents. We see the Duke of York, no, we don't. It is Tony

and cherie bladder. -- and Cheri Blair. And I think we should be

seeing John Major. -- it is Tony and Cherie Blair. I think I caught a

points of George Osborne, the Chancellor. The Chancellor and his

wife, arriving with Cherie Blair. Mr Blair, who attended the service back

in 2003 after the Iraq conflict, I remember being here for that. He is

now awaiting the outcome of the Chilcott inquiry into the Iraq

conflict. He was very much involved ten years ago when the Queen

celebrated her 80th birthday. There was a very jolly lunch afterwards

where the Queen" in Groucho Marx, saying everybody can get old, you

only have to live long enough. The Prime Minister responded. Here he

is, sitting further back but playing his part. And Sir John Major. Sir

John Major ready to take his place. More guests due to arrive. Now the

congregation is more or less in place, with some of the most

prominent guests yet to come, let's go back to Kirsty.

Today then, of course, marks the beginning of a weekend

of official celebrations for The Queen's 90th birthday,

but you may be surprised to know that it's also the 95th birthday

of her husband, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

The longest-serving British consort in history, his wife has very often

made a point of publicly acknowledging his continuous support

I am so happy that on this, my third visit, my future

A marriage begins by joining man and wife together.

PRINCE PHILIP: A marriage involves two partners.

We all know about the difficulties of achieving that happy family.

But if it succeeds in real life, there is nothing like it.

I here present unto you, Queen Elizabeth, your

'I, Philip, will become your liege man of life and limb,

'and of earthly worship and faith and truth I will bear unto you.'

She was 25 and I was 30 and we had two small children and life changed

dramatically in many ways, but it had much less

effect on our married life than I anticipated.

If I am asked today what I think about family life,

after 25 years of marriage, I can answer with equal

The main lesson that we've learned is that

tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage.

But it is absolutely vital when things get difficult,

and you can take it from me, that the Queen has the quality

All too often I fear Prince Philip has had

Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand.

And, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed

I've just done what I think is my best.

Being married to the Queen seems to me my first duty

was to serve her in the best way I could.

Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining

But he has quite simply been my strength and stay all these

years and I and his whole family owe him a debt greater

than he would ever claim or we shall ever know.

With me now to discuss the Duke is Baroness Benjamin,

Gyles Brandreth, and Olympic gold medallist and supporter of the Duke

Welcome, Sally. Welcome to you all, again. To you, Floella Benjamin, you

have met the Duke personally. Over the years, and we didn't see it

there, we got a different reflection, but he has tended to

have had quite a spiky public image. How have you found him in person? He

has a very unusual sense of humour. Meaning what? The dog the things

that he says are sometimes misinterpreted. When we first met,

we met at a lunch. I told him I was making Caribbean cookery programme,

I found out he knew everything about the Caribbean. He is a wealth of

knowledge about the area. He asked me whether I would cover fish and I

said, well, I think I am. He said, well, you should. I am the prime

Warden of the fishmongers and I want you to go and visit Billingsgate

market to see fish being cooked and spread across the country. I went,

OK. Thinking not very much of it. Through the lunch, we had a good

time, talked and joked about everything in the world. The

following day I got a letter saying, I have been commanded by his Royal

Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to invite you for a tour of

Billingsgate market. The next day. Did you go? Yes, my daughter and I

went and had a wonderful time looking at all the things that

happen up lings gates market, it is a hive of activity. We are all

asleep, four o'clock in the morning, so much is happening. Fishmongers

taking their fish to hotels, restaurants, fish markets. And the

Duke was so kind to me. Every time I have met enough to withstand macro

when I got my Obi, he sent me a congratulating me. I think he likes

you! -- when I asked my OBE. Sally Gunnell, talk about the Duke of

Edinburgh awards. I am sure you have been approached by many charities,

why that one? I think it is the skills that the awards want to be

able to give young adults, to move into adulthood. I think that is what

we Duke really believed when he set it up 60 years ago. I think it is

about challenging young people to find out about themselves. They do a

lot of volunteering, a lot of adventures, really quite challenging

at times. I think it gave everyone the opportunity to get the

confidence they needed to move up. It has been amazing. Aside from

putting his name to it, and it is one of the UK's best-known

charities, how involved is the Duke? Enormously. Still? About he has been

to over 500 of the awards, he has been this in James 's Palace, he has

been to about 500 of them. He will go around and meet everybody. We

have just had the big 60th dinner in Buckingham Palace, and lunch, the

garden party. Gyles, the Queen and the Duke were talking about their

relationship in their own words, it is interesting to hear him say that

tolerance is at the heart of a long marriage, and she has had to

tolerate... It made me smile, I thought that was interesting. What

is curious about them as they are so contrasting. The Queen is quite

reserved and quite conservative with a small C, she goes at quite a

gentle pace through life. He is dynamic and intellectual as well as

intelligent. Whatever you say, he comes back with yes, but. He is

always questioning. I was rating I biography for him about his naval

career and he said, yes, I would rather have gone into the air force!

You have been mentioned in dispatches, your naval career, no, I

would rather have been flying! He is a contrary and by nature? Yes, the

totally engaged in everything he does. He has been to every single

one of the gold standard Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme people, he

has been at everyone, actively involved. Attention to detail is

everything. He has been involved in 800 charities, but the ones he

really cares about, he gets down to the nitty-gritty. He is hands-on.

Magnificent. And the oldest member of any royal family, male member of

the British Royal family ever. 95, no walking stick, extraordinary. And

we have noted before, he chooses to stand, even when provided with a

check on he will stand. Famously on the boat, when the rain

came down. When I first met him, he said to me, "Tell me, what do you

do?" I said, you tell me what you do and I will tell you about myself. I

think that's why they got on so well together. Now back to Huw at St

Paul's Cathedral. Welcome back to St Paul's, where the

cathedral is now filling up. And we are within half an hour of this

National Service of thanksgiving. The Prime Minister has just arrived

and we have just seen the Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester and

some more royal guests arriving. This is Prince and Princess Michael

of Kent. And the Duke of Kent had Obama. Other members of the family.

-- a of them. Taking their place at the front. On the main six. The

cousins and the wider Royal Family have been here for some time now.

Now we are getting into more familiar royal territory. They are

all being treated at the Great West Door by the Dean of St Paul's

Cathedral, and the chapter, the cannons with the Dean. The governing

body, if you like, of the Cathedral. They are part of the welcoming

party. The Duke of Kent are being welcomed by the Dean and chapter and

then by the Bishop of London and by the Archbishop of Canterbury. That

is the formal process of welcome. The Duke of Gloucester their full

support you look at the other end of the Cathedral where people are

taking their seats, we have a big contingent now of politicians who

have gathered. There's an interesting little chat going on

between Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, who was very proudly a

dedicated Republican, he is here nonetheless as part of this National

Service of thanks Kevin, chatting to Mr Speaker John Bercow, who of

course, in days gone by, was a Conservative member of Parliament.

They are having a very friendly chat about what's going on. Let's look at

some of the other politicians as well, because they represent all

parts of the UK, Carwyn Jones, the First Minister of Wales. Next to

him, Peter Morrell, the husband of Nicola Sturgeon, who was very busy

last night taking part in a pretty feisty debate on the referendum on

ITV, on the referendum campaign. Also Arlene Foster, the First

Minister of Northern Ireland. Just on the left. Just behind, Ken

Macintosh, who is the newly elected presiding officer of the Scottish

Parliament, so he is here with Nicola Sturgeon and others. The

Prime Minister is also in his place now. David Cameron, who will be

giving one of the readings in the service, Samantha Cameron and there

we have George Osborne, too. All of them, of course, it goes without

saying, adding mention Nicola Sturgeon's activities, all of them

immersed in this pretty hard fought referendum campaign but today, all

thoughts away from that, focusing very sharply on the business here,

to give thanks for the Queen's 90 years. That's right, not a day for

splits, at all, we've got remainders left and right here, substantial

vertical turnout. We've got extensive members of the Cabinet,

ministers, representatives of all parts of the country, assemblies.

The Duke of Kent takes his seat. The Earl of St Andrews. Prince Michael

of Kent a little to the rear of them. Prince and Princess Michael of

Kent with their children. Freddie and Gabriella. When did we last see

a presence of the Royal Family on this scale? You have to go back to

the royal wedding to see quite so many members of the family, as well

as those in the line of succession, an extensive selection of cousins,

if you like, representatives from the Bowes Lyons family, on her

mother 's side, many members of the Mountbatten family here. Also a lot

of members of the Royal household here, because obviously, for them,

this is an extremely important day, too. Because if the Queen's official

birthday tomorrow, her real birthday was back in April, they have been

living this birthday, rather like Her Majesty, for many weeks now, and

they are glad to be here today, too. Let's have a look at the latest

arrivals outside the cathedral. This gives you a real sense of Ludgate

Hill, one of the three ancient hills in the City of London. There has

been a Cathedral on the spot, place a question, for 1400 years. It's

worth remembering that because we attend these services and report

what's going on but it's always good at some point to look at this

magnificent building, a masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren, and

remember it's been a place of worship for 1400 years. More

arrivals in a moment. Back to Sonali. Thank you, Huw. During the

service, we will hear three musical gifts being played to celebrate the

birthday and one of them will be performed by concert pianist Martin.

Tell us more about it. The police and going to players by Arnold Bax,

the first Queen's master the music, it's called Burlesque and its

amalgamation of different musical styles, bolts, some beautiful poetry

at the end. We look forward to hearing and seeing you perform.

Yours will be the first solo performance like that at the Royal

service? Yes, the first ever performance, no pressure, rarely

expiration mark its a real privilege to be here, though. Where does this

rate in your career? You have achieved so much, aged 19. This is

the pinnacle of my career so far. I don't know what can top it, really,

but it's wonderful to be here at such a joyous event. I'm not so

nervous as usual because it's such a celebration. You have a personal

connection with the green, don't you? Yes, she's a patron of the

college I study, the Royal College of music, and another aspect of her

life hugely interesting to me is her charity which is inspirational.

Martin, we look forward to your performance and the very best of

luck with it. Thank you so much. Martin seems as cool as a cucumber,

he will do a cracking job. Let's talk about the nature of family

pulled we saw Katie, 53 members of the Royal family gathering at St

Paul's for the service of thanks giving. That's pretty unusual. It's

amazingly unusual. I don't think they were that many at the Diamond

Jubilee, so very impressive testimony to the love the family

have for the Queen and vice versa. One of the loveliest things about

the celebrations, because they have been going on all year, some of the

family portraits released, and the lovely one of the Duke and the Queen

today, the one of her with her grandchildren and

great-grandchildren, you really saw that family bond for them to see

Princess Charlotte, perched on the Queen's lap, we so often see her as

a stateswoman, but to see her as a grandmother and great-grandmother I

think is really, really special and it's been particularly lovely, you

feel she's left is in a bit more. Is it right that the Queen has talked

to you in private about the nature of family and feelings about family?

When she came to Exeter and I'm the Chancellor of Exeter University, I

had the joy of shoving her around and we sat down together for lunch

during the visit. We exchanged our thoughts about family life, about

children, and, like any mother and grandmother, you realise she really

cared about her children and grandchildren and their well-being.

Very much concerned about the future and I was really thrilled she was so

open to share these views with me and I told her about my own family,

when I was a little girl in Trinidad standing up and singing God Save The

Queen, coming to England as a ten-year-old, being told you were

not worthy, but having a sense of pride, knowing the Queen of Britain

loved the Commonwealth and all the people there and now we are sitting

together sharing a meal. Who would've thought? She had such great

empathy because she wants to make people feel as if there is hope for

the future and she really truly cares about children. She told me

one thing she loved about having her children and grandchildren is

cooking a barbecue for them because she loves family life and making

people feel as if they are bonded together. We have increasingly seen

public connections with the Queen and her grandchildren, especially

recently with Prince Harry. I don't if the viewers saw this so I would

like to show it to them. This was the lead up as a publicity was

driving towards the Invictus Games, there was a rather surprising middle

then yet between the Queen and Harry, let's take a look. Shall we

watch it together? Yes. Prince Harry, Uma. Oh, really, please?!

LAUGHTER That is a laugh out loud moment. So

fascinating about that, the reason you're gripped about this, the

domestic story, these are a family, and also Heritage, the combination

is irresistible. We can now go back to Huw at St Paul's.

The Duke of York and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie arriving at St

Paul's Cathedral. His main focus over the past year has been his

pitch at the Palace to support entrepreneurs, he the UK special

representative for international trade and Princess Beatrice and

Princess Eugenie with him, too, and there we have the Earl and Countess

of Wessex. It's very nice we see them ready for the first time, the

Earl's son, playing a prominent starring role on a state occasion,

occasionally we've seen the children on the balcony, but here he is

coming to his first big formal event. There is Lady Louise Windsor,

too. She played a very poignant role at the equestrian birthday tribute

for the Queen at Windsor recently. She came on at the end riding pony

herself in front of the crowd alongside her father, the Earl of

Wessex. She will be very pleased they are here today. The Duke of

York being greeted by the Dean and chapter and now the Archbishop of

Canterbury exchanging a few words. The princesses, likewise, and the

Earl of Wessex, meeting Doctor David Ison, the Dean of Saint Paul's since

2012. It's a big year for the Earl because in charge of the Duke of

Edinburgh award scheme, taken on the mantle from his father, looking

after that, and it's their 60th anniversary so a lot of big events

in relation to that coming up around the world. Of course, great tribute

to the reluctant birthday boy today, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Bells of St Paul's Cathedral, very hard work for the Guild of

ringers at the Cathedral today, and indeed, over this weekend. Tomorrow,

on the day of the official birthday. They will be attempting a full

appeal which will take them for hours which will lead a lot of luck

for them there is the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy

Laurence, and the Queen's cousin Princess Alexandra, as well. More

than 50 members of the Royal family here today. Princess Alexandra's son

is here, James Ogilvy. And his wife. It really does have a feeling of a

family wedding, in a way. Although, we have seen a large number of

politicians, the diplomatic corps here, the governor general, we often

forget she is Queen not just of this country but 15 others and everyone

is represented here today. The dramatic core. The Royal left

tenants, people who work day in and day out, in counties up and down the

land, representing the Queen at a very local level. Will be organising

events this week on their own patch to mark her birthday but they are

all here today to. You normally think of the service itself, there's

been a great care is taken obviously to think about every single element

and segment of the service. What would you point people to as we look

forward to the service in 50 minutes time? What elements do you think

will really underline what this is about? I think a lot will depend on

what the Archbishop of Canterbury has to say and that's always an

important moment. The Archbishop of York is here today as well. New

music is being composed by Judith Weir, important, so for a lot of

people, they'll be looking forward to seeing Sir David Attenborough

who, of course, is the same age as the Queen, reading a tribute written

by Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, the only other

person who has two birthdays. There is David Attenborough with Michael

Bond, waiting to take part in the service. I think you are right, lots

of people will consider that to be one of the great highlights. He has

been very much part of Royal life, Sir David. Actually, he, many years

ago, in his capacity at the BBC, used to produce the Queen's

Christmas broadcast and he is a great friend of the Duke of

Edinburgh, as well. They have a shared interest in wildlife. The

Earl of Wessex now and the Countess of Wessex and their two children

taking their seats, so we are full up right up to the front row now.

There is no setting like it, St Paul's Cathedral. The view from the

great dome is... It really just expresses the scale and ambition of

Wren, and the fact it is still there is a miracle. It has seen some of

the moment in our national life. Royal weddings, the state funeral

for Baroness Thatcher. There is this, Westminster Abbey, they are

the places that have told the great moments in the modern royal story.

It is worth pointing out that there are also many senior members of the

household who have served the Queen for, collectively, well over 100

years. Some of her ladies in waiting were sitting out there. They are all

here today. They have all been at her side right around the world,

ready throughout, it is a big day for them as well. We mentioned the

music earlier. We were talking about the young musician who was

explaining to us that, in a sense, he was not quite as nervous as he

thought he would be. I know he is brilliant, but I have to say, he

must be a little bit nervous. How could you not be?! Everybody just

wants to do their best. They are all here the cause of a shared respect

for the Queen, you want this to be absolutely perfect. Yesterday, when

some of the rehearsing was going on, that was uplifting in itself, I

think we are in for a real treat. The standard of the music, as

always, in these services, is world-class. We have had the band of

the Royal air horse -- Royal Air Force Regiment, we have had the

trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, the state trumpeters and from the

Royal Marines. They will be taking part in the service. And Simon

Johnson, the organist and assistant director, as I mentioned, will be

playing the organ for the servers. And two acquires, the choir of St

Paul's Cathedral and Her Majesty's Chapel Royal. So the quality of the

music is guaranteed. Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, just on the

right-hand side. Then Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, in

the front row of the politicians, along with the Chancellor and the

Prime Minister. Chris Grayling, the leader of the House, sitting just

behind them. And sitting just behind the Labour

leader, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. This is his first major

service at St Paul's Cathedral as the newly elected Mayor of London.

He has had a very energetic and probably rather tiring time over the

last few weeks, Robert? I think the strain was starting to show a little

just then. During his time as mayor he will get used to taking part in a

lot of these events. With that office comes a and that all these

great occasions. Sir John Major has seen many of these great moments

himself, with Dame Norma. It just behind them of course, Tony and

Cherie Blair. The Duke of York and his daughters

Princess Beatrice Princess Eugenie, who have played a very prominent

part in all of these family occasions. And the Earl and Countess

of Wessex, with ladylove and Viscount seven. They are studying

the programme, we have made it available online. -- with Lady and

we -- Louise Wessex. You can see the address below, that is the link to

where you can download the order of service, if that is obvious to

people. Can follow the words to the hymns, for example. The Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge, the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry are still on

my way. This should be the Duke and Duchess of and Prince Harry in the

first car, we think. And they will be greeted by the Lord Mayor of

London, Geoffrey Evans, the leader of the City of London Corporation.

He is always present at these events, because he is the authority

in the City of London and he greets guests to St Paul's, which is in the

City precinct. The 688 Lord Mayor of London. A big cheer for Prince Harry

and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, arriving together. We

will see them, of course, tomorrow on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Cambridge himself will be taking part on horseback as

Colonel of the Irish Guards, Prince Harry will no doubt is called the

Duchess in a carriage. -- no doubt escort the Dodgers. The Duke and

Duchess are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary this year. We

have the Yeomen of the Guard and the gentlemen at Arms. The yeomen have

very smartly lined up in their medieval uniforms. Always a bit of

rivalry between them. Very friendly. The Yeoman points out that they are

the oldest guard, and the gentleman point out that they are the closest

guard. The closest guard and the senior guard. They also say that we

are gentlemen, and they are yeomen, and that is meant to be

self-explanatory. Doctor David Ison, the dean, presenting the Duke to

members of the chapter. He knows the Bishop of London very well, and the

Archbishop of Canterbury. The latest arrivals along Ludgate Hill, the

Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

To loud cheers. A big crowd, a big Hill national crowd. You can see a

Canadian flag. -- a big international crowd. Events like

this are not hugely publicised in advance but because, frankly, this

is not the room for the volume of people it would attract, but it is

still very popular. A very big crowd today, and even bigger one tomorrow,

no doubt. The Duchess of Cornwall is getting out of the state car but the

Prince of Wales. They will be greeted by the Lord Mayor of London,

and I think it is worth noting, we mentioned earlier, the Duke of

Edinburgh scheme and all that has achieved, this year the Prince of

Wales and celebrating 40 years of the Prince's Trust, which has helped

hundreds of thousands of young people. Yes, an extraordinary

organisation created with the contents of his Royal Navy pension

when he left the Navy in 1976, it is the biggest charitable network in

the country. He has a lot to celebrate this year. With the

Duchess, they appeared together once again this year at the State Opening

of Parliament, which is a relatively recent development for them as a

couple. Very gradually we are seeing more and more of the heavy lifting

of the monarchy gradually being shared around and the Prince and the

Duchess are taking on a lot of the long haul travel that the Queen once

did herself. It is very much a team effort the way the monarchy is run

these days, with three generations going strong at the same time.

Just getting a glimpse of the Great West Door of the state trumpeters of

the Household Cavalry. They have moved into position at the top of

the steps and they look splendid. They are waiting for Her Majesty's

arrival. They will sound the fanfare when the Queen arrives here just

outside St Paul's. It will be centred on the instruction of

trumpet made of the Bishop. Once inside, the trumpeters of the Royal

Marines, Portsmouth, will sound a second fanfare. All the arms of the

Armed Forces are playing their part, musically.

And the smiles and the joke tellers that everybody is in the spirit for

this service. -- and the jokes tell us. It is a state occasion, that it

is a personal and family occasion. The world is marking a big

anniversary, there is a major service here -- there was a major

service last year to mark the 200th anniversary of Waterloo. It had a

similar level of the IP guest, but here today you see the Duke of

Cambridge turning around and waving at some of his cousins he has not

seen for a while, it has this family feel as well as being a national

event. -- it had a similar level of the IP -- VIP guests. I wonder if

Prince Harry is talking about the Invictus Games? There's quite a few

members of the Royal family will be attending the commemorations of the

centenary of the Somme in a few weeks. That is another eventer where

all the royal family are heading off in different directions. There is a

vigil at Westminster Abbey for the Queen, the Prince of Wales in both

Prince William and Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge will be out

on the battlefield of the Somme, there will be very powerful scenes

of that extraordinary Memorial both at night and by day. The Princess

Royal herself will be in commemorations in Canada. As ever,

there are major historic landmarks to be commemorated on the Royal

family will be at the forefront of them. -- and the Royal family will

be. It is coming up to three minutes to

11. Very soon we will have the signal to say that Her Majesty and

the Duke are very close to arriving at the cathedral of St Paul's. Let's

take a look down Ludgate Hill and see if there is any sign, because

the crowds are there, the flags fluttering in the breeze. All eyes

trained along Ludgate Hill, down towards Fleet Street, Matt is the

direction we are looking at. Ludgate is one of the ancient gates at the

City of London, it was dismantled in 1780, I think, but that is the area.

Lots of very powerful resonant reminders of the ancient history of

this part of London. We are following the Queen's progress from

the helicopter. Snaking their way through, left and right.

Use an sense assume that the traffic has been cleared, but clearly not in

London. -- you sometimes sense. Artisan illustration of the style of

the monarchy. In some states, a small official might demand a

motorcade. Here is an event with all the senior figures in the land, it

is a small motorcade being helped through the traffic, but the message

will have gone out, as always, no great first, please. Try to make

sure I am there on time. I think that was Waterloo station, they will

be crossing Waterloo Bridge very soon. They will probably take a

couple of minutes to arrive. Outside St Paul's, we can see there is a

handrail which has been erected on the steps. Just mindful of the fact

that Her Majesty is our longest lived monarchy. -- Al is live

monarch. -- our longest lived monarch. I want to look at the Pearl

Sword. It will take an important part of the ceremony, the sword

bearer is there to the left, the Pearl Sword is an ancient symbol,

16th century, of the authority of the Lord Mayor. He will presented to

the Queen, who will simply touch him. This is, I suppose, a

recognition of the monarch's supreme power, even in the City of London,

where the Lord Mayor is normally the boss. This ceremony normally takes

place at the boundary at Temple Bar, the other end of Fleet Street, that

there is no reason to stop there these days, the Queen comes for

convenience to St Paul's and the Pearl Sword ceremony takes place on

the steps. A word about this deadline is, they look so smart and

represent all branches of the Armed Forces. -- the step liners. From the

Navy, the army, a very long list including the lifeguards, costume

guards, Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Guards, the Royal Regiment of

Wales got in, the Duke of Lancaster's regiment. And the Royal

Air Force from Cromwell, Maron, the Royal Air Force Regiment, the Royal

auxiliary Air Force and the Royal auxiliary Air Force in Edinburgh. I

will just mention one of the people who is taking part. Warrant Officer

Norman Davenport is 61 and from Edinburgh. Why am I kicking him out?

He is one of the few still serving who holds the Queen's Silver Jubilee

medal, the Golden Jubilee medal and the cream Haas Diamond Jubilee

Medal. Warrant Officer Norman Davenport, 61 and from Edinburgh,

the squadron Warrant Officer of the 603 city of Edinburgh Squadron Royal

auxiliary Air Force. He is on the steps.

What an honour to be chosen for this today. Yes, when you have the Queen

as your kernel or Commodore, Admiral, whichever you represent,

it's a huge honour to be asked to take part here. -- kernel. They have

seats reserved for them. They will be taking part in the service, as

well. It's a reflection of the span of the Queen's close personal

connections. Each one of those people out there on the steps

represent an organisation she knows all about. And even inside the

cathedral, the bells can be heard very, very clearly. There are

dominating everything and I will say a word, they are all enjoying it and

Prince Harry enjoying a joke with the Earl of Wessex but I will say a

word about the bell-ringers because there are 33 members ranging from

21-83 years of age, and in 2015, they rang for 180 services, not just

high profile like this one, state events, but all kinds of others,

too, so spare a thought for the yield of ringers hard at work today.

There is a Countess of Wessex, possibly explaining to her son this

is how these events work. This is what they are going to be like and

you will see more of these over the years. Some members of the Duke of

Kent's family, as well. Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall. Alongside

Peter Phillips and his wife. More members of the Kent family behind.

The Princess Royal and her husband, two, and Princess and has attended

many services here over the years. She certainly has. She is very much,

as we saw in some of those birthday photographs, of the Queen, a

delightful photograph of the Queen and the Princess Royal side-by-side.

I think people sometimes forget how close she is to the Queen so much of

the time. Events like this, it's very nice to see the way they do

bring out the extended family. All of them very much thrilled to be

part of a day like today. We mentioned Peter Phillips earlier,

because there's been a lot of work put into Sunday, the patron 's lunch

on the Mall. That has been his job. Yes, it was his idea to gather

together all the 600 odd charities of which the Queen is patron, has a

connection to, get them all, as it were, to sit down and celebrate. As

well as this remarkable lunch, in the Mall, there will be a parade,

representing all facets of the Queen's life but again, there has

been very clear attempts to spread that birthday message across the

country, so as well as the Mall, there will be events in villages,

towns and streets all over the country, street parties happening

this weekend, mainly on Sunday to say exactly the same thing, which is

happy birthday, your Majesty. There was one gentleman here today

celebrating as 97th birthday this year. That is something for others

to think about, maybe because the Duke of Edinburgh today celebrating

his 95th birthday, but Lord Carrington of areas, very

distinguished figure, 97 this year and the oldest survivor, living

survivor of the Cabinet of Winston Churchill, Alex Douglas Hume, and

Harold Macmillan. As if that's not enough, the second longest serving

member of the Privy Council after the Duke of Edinburgh and let's not

forget his distinguished service in the Second World War with the

Grenadier Guards. He is the holder of the military Cross. He's also a

very proud night the Garter, the senior order of several routes and

they wouldn't be meeting on Monday at Windsor Castle and they will have

the annual ceremony. The weight is on, it is 11:05am and the Archbishop

of Canterbury and the Bishop of London are aware it's the Queen is

right of course to turn up whenever she likes, especially for a service

which is to do with her 90th birthday, but I think it's fair to

say, we are a little late at this point and maybe going via Waterloo

was not a good idea. I'm looking forward to see what the Duke of

Edinburgh says to the Sadiq Khan about his travel arrangements. He

will be wondering about some of those roadworks en route. Justin

Welby does not look very amused at this point. The Bishop of London

who, of course, per side over the Cenotaph, is someone, this is his

cathedral church and he's starting to look a little worried. Let's look

outside because I'd like to see what's going on. We can keep our

fingers crossed. That is a lovely view towards the City of London but

in the other direction, we are looking down towards Fleet Street.

This is the probable arrival route. We think, if it's across Waterloo

Bridge and along the Strand, that would be the normal route but who

knows, maybe there's a more circuitous route today? Yes, over

history, there have been occasions when they've altered the route for

the George V Silver Jubilee for example. It had to be diverted. If

they came across London Bridge, of course, they would come this way,

from eastern end, from the City of London and then we have that rather

odd walkie-talkie building dominating the skyline behind us,

and then from eastern direction from London Bridge down here, and across

the main approach, the famous millennium Bridge which looks across

to the bank, the Tate modern, Bankside, and across this way so

there are two routes. I'm wondering now maybe we were looking the wrong

way. The crowd down there are hoping they are in the right spot. It does

at least allow us to see that the crowds are extending, not just don't

Ludgate Hill, but are extending all the way back. Towards the southern

entrance of the cathedral. There is a grand southern entrance which is

not used very often. The Great West Door is the main facade. From the

sky, I have to say, it's always a breathtaking view of St Paul's

Cathedral. It dominates this part of the skyline, despite the skyline

having been changed dramatically recently around the city on the

south side with the Shard, across the river from here. Saint Paul's

still powerfully dominating the skyline in this part of London.

Getting a glimpse of the Thames there, and this weekend in honour of

Her Majesty is 90th birthday, the parade along the traditional route,

there will be a flotilla of boats setting sail along the river at the

same time, including Gloriana which we famously saw in the Jubilee

Thames pageant. So that is Ludgate Circus, the circular part of the

intersection, and that now looks a little more promising, doesn't it?

They turn right, as they are, and maybe across Blackfriars.

Blackfriars Bridge. Missed out Fleet Street. Climbing Ludgate Hill, at

nearly ten past 11. The Queen preparing to celebrate her 90th

birthday with a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral,

flanked by the Duke of Edinburgh who was celebrating his birthday at 95

today. He wants to keep that quiet, though, doesn't it? Yes, despite

efforts to try and arrange one or two things for him, he's made it

very clear he doesn't want anything to distract from the Queen's

celebrations. I'm sure there will be references in the service to his

Royal high as for the peers, after all, the longest lived consort the

British Royal family has ever had. There's is the longest royal

marriage in history. There we can see the Queen. She is wearing a

primrose yellow outfit. Dressed by her dresser, Angela Kelly, for the

occasion. The state trumpeters tell us she is arriving.

The state trumpeters of the Household Cavalry indeed, led by

trumpeter Philip Bishop announcing the Queen's arrival at St Paul's

Cathedral for the service of banks giving. Thus that Linus, 83 of them

in place, and the Lord Mayor of London, Jeffrey Evans, ready to

treat them. -- greet them. The Pearl Sword, a symbol of the

authority of the Lord Mayor of London.

CROWD CHEERS It's being carried up to the Great

West Door. As soon as the Queen arrives at the Great West Door, the

fanfare trumpeters of the Royal Marines Portsmouth will announce the

Queen's arrival. Her Majesty greeted by Doctor David

Ison the Dean of St Paul's. And by members of the chapter of St Paul's

Cathedral. The ecclesiastical governing body of the cathedral. In

turn,. After the greetings are complete, they will form a

procession and the first hymn will be sung. While that procession takes

place. And, in that procession, which will include clearly the Queen

and the Duke, it will also include the Archbishop of Canterbury, who

has prepared a special sermon for today's service. Doctor Richard

charters, the Bishop of London, also. And other members of the

chapter of St Paul's. The procession is formed and the

first hymn, Worship The Lord. # O worship the Lord

in the beauty of holiness! # Bow down before him,

his glory proclaim. # With gold of obedience,

and incense of lowliness. # Kneel and adore him,

the Lord is his name! # Low at his feet lay thy

burden of carefulness. # High on his heart he will bear

it for thee. # Comfort thy sorrows,

and answer thy prayerfulness. # Guiding thy steps as may best

for thee be. # Fear not to enter his courts

in the slenderness. # Of the poor wealth thou wouldst

reckon as thine. # Truth in its beauty,

and love in its tenderness. # These are the offerings to lay

on his shrine. # These, though we bring them

in trembling and fearfulness. # He will accept for the name

that is dear. # Mornings of joy give

for evenings of tearfulness. # Trust for our trembling and hope

for our fear. # O worship the Lord

in the beauty of holiness! # Bow down before him,

his glory proclaim. # With gold of obedience,

and incense of lowliness. # Kneel and adore him,

the Lord is his name #. Dear friends, we come

together to give thanks, For life in all its fullness,

for love in all its power, Most especially today do we give

thanks for the length of years that has been granted to our most

gracious Sovereign Lady, For her faithful devotion,

dutiful commitment, loving leadership, gentle constancy,

royal dignity and kindly humanity. And as we give thanks

for Her Majesty, so also do we give thanks for Philip, Duke of

Edinburgh, and all the Royal Family, for mutual love and support

and for service to this country Rejoicing at our good fortune,

we nonetheless pray The lonely and the despairing,

the sick and the fearful, the weak and the oppressed,

that each precious life may be redeemed by love of God

and love of neighbour, that together we may share

in one another's joy. All these our thoughts

and prayers let us offer up to the throne of God

in the words our Saviour Jesus Christ commanded and taught us,

praying: Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those

who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory, # O be joyful in the

Lord, all ye lands. # O be joyful in the Lord,

all ye lands. # And come before his

presence with a song. # Be ye sure that the Lord

# We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

# Be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name.

# And his truth endureth from generation to generation.

# Glory be to the Father, and to the son.

King of glory, King of peace, whose son Jesus Christ,

the Prince of Peace, reigns at your right hand in glory.

We give you humble and hearty thanks that you have

granted length of years to our Sovereign Lady Queen

Elizabeth and have given her gifts of faith in your promises,

hope for the future, and love of her people.

Send down upon her, we pray, the continuing dew of your

blessings, that she may ever incline to your will and serve you with joy

and grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Lord, you have searched me out and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up, you discern

You mark out my journeys and my resting place

For there is not a word on my tongue, but you,

You encompass me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, so high that

Where can I go, then, from your spirit?

Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I climb up to heaven, you are there.

If I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts

of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,

If I say, 'Surely the darkness will cover me and the light

around me turn to night,' even darkness is no darkness with you.

The night is as clear as the day, darkness and light

For you yourself created my inmost parts, you knit me together

I thank you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvellous are your works, my soul knows well.

When I was made in secret and woven in the depths of the earth your eyes

Already in your book were all my members written,

as day by day they were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.

How deep are your counsels to me, O God!

If I count them, they are more in number than the sand,

and at the end, I am still in your presence.

# Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us.

# Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us.

# Thou didst tread this earth before us.

Jesus said unto his disciples: "Therefore I say unto you,

take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat.

Neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than 'raiment.

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap,

which neither have storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them.

How much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least,

They toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you that Solomon

in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field,

and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you,

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after,

and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things

# Seven whole days, not one in seven.

May I speak in the name of God, Father, son and holy spirit? Amen.

Psalm 139, verse 12, unit to be together in my mother 's womb, I

thank you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 90 years ago, Her

Majesty The Queen was born. Like every human being, knits together in

her mother 's womb and today we thank God for the way in which she,

like every human being, is fearfully and wonderfully made. Before we ever

come to light, God marks our journeys. No one at the Queen's

birth new for watching was destined. Today we recognise that God knew.

And Psalm 139, verse four, UN compass me behind and before and lay

your hand upon me. 63 years ago, at the Coronation, a gain in the words

of the Psalmist, God uniquely laid his hand upon Her Majesty, anointing

her as our head of state, our monarch. We are here today to

worship the God who made our Queen and to celebrate the way in which

God's hand has been so uniquely evident in her life. Psalm 139, it

explores fear and wonder and the connection between them. In life,

there is much to fear, over and again the Psalm describes those

things we might be afraid of. The fears we harbour individually, as

well as the fears we share together. Fear makes us want to flee. From

God. From one another. Often even from ourselves. But over and again,

that fear is turned into wonder as we see that God is before, behind

and beyond it. Over the 63 years and 90 years, there has been much to

fear. At times of personal challenge or national crisis, just as the

Psalmist sees through fear to something more staring, and more

extraordinary, so we look back on your Majesty's 90 years in the life

of our nation with deep wonder and profound gratitude. Through war and

hardship, through turmoil and change, we have been fearfully and

wonderfully sustained. The one who turns fear to wonder is Jesus. The