The National Service of Thanksgiving Highlights The Queen's 90th Birthday

Good evening and welcome back to St James' Park. You join us after a day

of celebration to start the weekend of events to mark her

Majesty'sofficial 90th birthday. The Queen is the first British monarch

in history to celebrate a 90th birthday, and we started the weekend

in fitting style for such a landmark occasion, with the National Service

of things giving from St Paul's Cathedral. I am joined now by royal

biographer Gyles Brandreth, biographer Katie Nicholl and

Baroness Floella Benjamin. We enjoyed the day and the pictures.

Katie, you were there with me for the service. We watched it all. What

did you make of it? I thought it was an excellent start to an exciting

weekend of celebrations. A little anxiety when the Queen was late, she

was almost eight minutes late. Perhaps she was caught up in

traffic. But when she arrived, she dazzled. She had chosen primrose

yellow. The Queen always takes great care in what she wears. She wants to

be seen and she looked vibrant and happy. The moment where she paused

at the top of the steps and looked out at the crowds with the Duke at

her side, I just thought, she is enjoying this as much as the rest of

us. And that is the point about the weekend celebrations. Gyles, the

crowds were six or seven people beat. And they were there for a

reason. This was a historic day. Longest serving monarch, our oldest

monarch, with, by her side, her consort, 95 today, the oldest male

member of the British Royal Family ever. Both these people are the

great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria. There they were, as a low

bridge the people in their 90s, but also taking part in the service,

people aged 19, a young musician of 19 who played the piano brilliantly,

and a deputy footman from the king palace giving one of the readings.

This was an inclusive service. There was every kind of person there. Lots

of faiths were represented. The Commonwealth was represented, old

people, young people. The 1920s, the decade in which Prince Philip and

the Queen were born, were evoked by Michael Bond, the creator of

Paddington bear, who gave a reading that was performed by Sir David

Attenborough, also 90, that brought to life the spirit of people from

that generation. Floella Benjamin, we know it was the Duke of

Edinburgh's 95th birthday today. We had been told he doesn't want a

fuss. That was not the case. He was mentioned throughout the service. It

seemed as if people were determined to mark the fact that the Queen is

celebrating her 90th, and he is celebrating his 95th. He is very

much part of her story. Very much so. We always talk about the Queen

having dedication to duty, but the Prince also has dedication to

support his wife, to be there for her. He is the perfect role model

for women who are strong whose husbands need to support them. I

know he is shy and modest about promoting himself, but he would have

loved it. And you know him. You have had dealings with him on many

occasions. We were talking earlier today about the fact that some

people think he is a spiky character, but that is not how you

find him. I think he is a clever man . When he sees things, he speaks,

and gets into trouble because he speaks before he has thought it

through as to how people would perceive his statement. But when you

get to know him, you realise he is a kind person. I know the person who

has. With the Duke of Edinburgh awards, a black man from Jamaica. He

wrote to the Duke and said, I think it could be done much better for the

South American countries. And the Duke said, all right, you do it. And

he has been in charge of since. The Duke is such a generous person. If

he believes in you and if you show you have the ability to produce what

is necessary, that is what I love about him. People get him wrong, but

when you can give as good as you get with him and shared jokes with him,

he is very funny and you realise what a great person he is. Gyles, it

was interesting to see how the partnership was illustrated. They

are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary next year. Can you

imagine? I can, actually. It is a real partnership and has been from

the beginning. If you regard the Queen's reign as a success, which we

do, the co-author of that success is the Duke of Edinburgh. They have

been together as a double act over all these years. Today, when they

arrived, getting out of the car, I noticed that the Queen held the

railing a couple of times, but not the Duke, always one step behind. He

never puts a foot wrong. But when they got to the top of the stairs, I

thought I saw him say, shall we do the wave? They waved and in they

went. They are a unique double act and we are blessed. Before we remind

ourselves of the highlights from this morning's service, it is worth

reflecting on her Majesty's 90 years, over 64 of which have been

spent as our monarch. It is easy to forget that when she came to the

throne, she was only a young girl of just 25. So a life of service and

duty to the nation and Commonwealth began. We spoke to some of the

country's leading figures to hear what her role has meant both to them

personally and to the nation. 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, 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 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 he was in line

to the throne, I had to talk through the possible deployment

with her and she was very thoughtful 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 and directs every

aspect of her life. 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. Just some reflections from some of

the people who have known and met the Queen many times over the years.

And so too did a's main event, a real family occasion, with over 50

members of the Royal Family in attendance to celebrate the Queen's

official 90th birthday. We join Huw Edwards at St Paul's Cathedral.

HUW EDWARDS: welcome to St Paul's, the mother church of the diocese of

London. There have of course been many notable services of

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

like today's, 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. It is a

Service of Thanksgiving. It is meant to be an uplifting service, and soon

the cathedral will be filled with a congregation of 2000 people, all

invited because they have some connection with the Queen or

something special to contribute to the service. Her Majesty will not be

the only 90-year-old present. Others will include the author Michael

Bond, author of the books on Paddington. He has provided one of

the readings which will be delivered by Sir David Attenborough today, who

recently celebrated his 90th birthday. The service will also be

notable for the massed presence of the Royal Family, as many as 53

members will be here, the biggest gathering of recent years. I am

delighted to say that next to me, looking forward to the service, is

Robert Hardman, author, Daily Mail journalist and royal commentator.

What are we in forward to? We are looking forward to something that is

both very personal, obviously the grandeur of a state occasion. It is

a birthday, but this is a queen who is modest. She doesn't want this to

be about her. There is someone who has been busy recently. That is the

Queen's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, who was in charge of the

Patron's Lunch. And Zara Phillips with Mike Tindall, taking their

places at the front. If we look outside the cathedral, we will see,

on Ludgate Hill, the fleet of cars arriving. 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 of Buckingham Palace.

The Duke of Cambridge himself will be taking part on horseback as

Colonel of the Irish Guards. Prince Harry will no doubt as got the

Duchess in a carriage to proceedings -- he will escort the Duchess. The

Duke and Duchess of Kent which are celebrated their fifth wedding

anniversary this year. -- the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Prince

of Wales, and the Duchess of Cornwall. Soon, we will have the

signal to say that Her Majesty and the Duke are close to arriving at

the cathedral at St Paul's. Now, we can see the Queen. She is wearing a

primrose yellow dress by her dresser, Angela Kelly. Anti-state

trumpeters tell us what we have been waiting for -- the state trumpeters.

The state trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, indeed.

Announcing the Queen's arrival at St Paul's Cathedral for this service of

Thanksgiving Day. # 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. 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, Oh, Lord, you have searched and

known me. You are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongu, for you, oh, Lord, know it together.

You encompass plea behind and before, and laying your hand upon

me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. So high that I cannot attain

it. Where can I go then, from your

spirit? Or where can I flee from your sprains? 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 utter most parts of the sea, even there, your hand shall

lead me, your right hand hold me fast.

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 light is as

clear as the day. Darkness and light to you are both alike.

For you, yourself, created my innermost parts.

You knit me together in my mother's womb. I thank you, for I am

fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous, are your works, my soul

knows well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret

and wove no-one the depths of the Earth. Your eyes, be held my form as

yet unfinished. Ne already in your book were all membe are, s written,

as day by day fashioned, when as yet there were none of them. How deep

are your counsels to me, oh, God, how great the sum of them. If I

count them, they are more than number in 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. May I speak in the name of God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 90 years ago, Her Majesty the Queen

was born. And 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 knew for

what she was destined. Today, we recognise that God new.

And Psalm 139 verse 4: You encompass me behind and before, and lay your

hand upon me. 63 years ago at the Coronation,

again 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 that made our Queen and to celebrate the way

in which God's hand has been so uniquely evident in her life.

How much more does God care and close each one of us?

Your Majesty, today we rejoice for the

way in which God's loving care has fearfully and wonderfully sustained

And we see that God is before, behind and beyond it.

Over the 63 years an the 90 years, there has been much to fear.

At times of personal challenge or

national crisis but just as the Psalmist sees through to something

more stirring and 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. Your Majesty, today we rejoice for

the way in which God's loving care has fearfully and wonderfully

sustained you. As well as Prince Philip marking his 95th birthday

today. And weary Joyce, Your Majesty, for the way in which the

life God has given you, in turn, you have given in service to this

nation. You

have beenen instrument of God's peace. Through you, God has often

turned fear into wonder and joy. In the name of the Father, and of

the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

# Shout unto God with a voice of triumph.

# For the Lord most high is terrible.

# He is a great King over all the earth.

# The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

# For God is the King of all the earth.

# Sing ye praises everyone that hath understanding.

# God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

With the Psalmist, let us call upon the name of the Lord,

and give thanks for all that God has done, that the hearts of those

God of Glory, we give you thanks for bringing us to birth.

Let our mouths be filled with your praise that we may sing

God our Light, we give you thanks for festivity and celebration.

Refresh us as we rejoice together that we may know life

God our King, we give you thanks for the 90th birthday

Sustain and strengthen her that her reign may

God our strength, we give you thanks for the support of others.

Bless Philip, Duke of Edinburgh that this birthday

God our saviour, we give you thanks for Jesus Christ, your Son.

Enliven the Church, his body in the world,

God our guide, we give you thanks for those who inspire us.

Encourage all people of faith that together,

God our maker, we give you thanks for the world in which we live.

Help us to tend and care for it that all life may enjoy the fruits

God our judge, we give you thanks for all who strive

Give us your gift of peace that war and terror may be no more.

God our deliverer, we give you thanks for those who rescue us.

Save all who are in trouble that today they may be free.

God our refuge, we give you thanks for our homes and families.

Strengthen the communities from which we come

that together we may care for each other.

God our shepherd, we give you thanks for the hope of heaven.

Receive into your care those who have gone before us

God of glory, we give you thanks for bringing us to birth.

Let our mouths be filled with your praise that we may sing

Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the 90th birthday of Her Majesty

the Queen, receive our heartfelt thanks for all that you have

given her in these 90 years and for all that she has given

Continue, we pray, your loving purposes in her, and as you gather

us together in celebration, unite us also in love

Like me, author Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear among

other characters, also celebrate his 90th birthday this year.

Here are his reflections on the 1926 vintage

My mother took one look at the

So I was destined to be an only child at the outset.

As a precaution, she stood me in a bowl

of sea salt to stop me going bandy with the weight,

Apart from an entry in the local paper,

The Times of London was more concerned with the fate

of a bus conductor who was in court charged with allowing

an excess of passengers to board an omnibus in East Ham.

They swarmed on before I had a chance to count them,

Things have moved at a different rate since those days.

I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a house where books were part

My mother was such an avid reader that she wrote

to authors to thank them, and in the same letter ask

if they would make the next book a little longer.

the most precious gift you can bestow on a child is your time.

He was a very polite man, and always wore a hat

when he went outside in public

Addressing people older than yourselves by their Christian name,

if you were a child, could be a tricky

which meant that most adults were either

Owing to the horrendous casualties in the First World War, there were

And because most of them led lonely lives,

I was frequently invited to stay while I was growing up.

Auntie Anne, who got up everyone to attention whenever the

national anthem was played on the radio, and Auntie G,

The latter loved going to the cinema, and as she was unable to

lip-read from the picture on screen, Auntie Annie took a torch and shone

the light on her own lips instead as she read the words out loud.

Lovely ladies both, but confusion was being piled on confusion.

It wasn't until I reached the age of 90

that I began to realise the comfort of Louise Haskins' words

suggesting that when you have a problem, your best bet

is to consult the man who stands at the gate

Truly, if you put your hand into the hand of God, that

shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.

MUSIC: 'Burlesque' by Sir Arnold Bax.

For the faithful devotion of our Sovereign.

For her dutiful commitment to her people.

For her loving leadership of nation and family.

For her gentle constancy amidst continuing change

For her royal dignity in joy and in adversity.

For her kindly humanity to one and all.

We give thanks and praise for these divine gifts given

to our gracious Queen yesterday, today, and in the years

# Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided.

# Urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way.

# Sought us and saved us, pardoned and Provided.

# Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

# Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires Us.

# Speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze.

# Teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us.

# Lord of the word, receive your people's praise.

# Lord, for our land, in this our generation.

# Spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care.

# For young and old, for Commonwealth and Nation.

Hold fast that which is good, render to no one evil for evil.

Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help

Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain

The Prime Minister, and Jeremy Corbyn there on the left.

Chris Grayling. The prigs under its way under the great dome of St

Paul's Cathedral. Heading to the Great West Door. Led by the Pearl

Sword. One of six ancient swords. The

possession of the City of London Corporation.

Robert Hardman is still with me, the author, royal commentator. For you,

what was the highlight of the service? Was it the playing of the

young pianist? He was brilliant. So many little personal touches

peppered throughout this carefully prepared service. For example, the

lovely address by David Attenborough reading the words of Sir Michael

Bond. The readings from people representing different strands of

her life, Clare Balding, reflecting on the Queen's love of racing and

the member of the Household, Oscar Matthews from the Buckingham Palace,

reading as well. All these little strands. You could pick any moment

from the service, and it would have meaning.

Lots of smiles and words of thanks. Just a quick exchange with the

Archbishop of Canterbury, the Queen seems pleased with the way that

things have gone. St Paul's, the bell ringers, hard at

work already. Signalling that the monarch is here,

that the service is over. And this is the time for the crowds

to start waving the flags and to start cheering, as they are.

The Queen in primrose yellow by her dresser, Angela Kelly has been

striked by the palace as a primrose yellow A-line coat.

A wonderful sight, St Paul's Cathedral, on a lovely sunny day and

we are looking forward to a weekend tomorrow with lots of music,

marching precision and pageantry and then of course, a rather more fun

time on Sunday with a rather informal party going on in The Mall.

Thank you all, a wonderful start to a wonderful weekend.

Celebrating a monarch, who in the words of Archbishop of Canterbury

has given wonderfully to of service to a nation.

And I'm back on Sunday at 1.15pm for the biggest street party, The Mall

and indeed, the nation, has ever seen. Do join me for that. For now,

thank you for watching and do have a good evening.

as we head to Horse Guards Parade for Trooping the Colour.

for Britain's biggest ever street party -

of over 600 charitable organisations.