Highlights The Coronation: 60th Anniversary Service

good morning from Westminster Abbey, where astonishingly, almost

every monarchy in our history has been crowned. Nearly 1000 years of

our history are presented here. I am represented at the abbey where Queen

Elizabeth was crowned 60 years ago, and she is back to celebrate that

coronation. Something extraordinary has happened here this morning. Two

of the regalia used in the Coronation have been brought to the

Abbey under close guard to be placed on the high altar for the duration

of the service. Two significant parts of the regalia. On the right,

the gold eagle, with wings outstretched, which carried the

sacred oil with which the Queen was anointed. And then the great Saint

Edward's crown, solid gold encrusted with jewels heavy, weighs five lbs,

over two kilos, only one briefly by the Queen at the Coronation. This

wonderful Abbey, so much beloved, was actually designed to form a

theatre for the Coronation of Kings and Queens by Henry III, designed so

that as many people as possible could see the Coronation. And the

congregation that has been arriving here for the last half-hour or so

gathered from all corners of the UK, chosen by the Queen's

representatives in the country, the Lord's lieutenant. People from

public life who have given public service, members of the Armed Forces

and others. And the Royal family will be here. 25 members of the

Royal family joining the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, was unwell

yesterday. It is said he will come here this morning, determined not to

miss the service. In 1953, nearly 2 million people came to London to

watch the spectacular Coronation procession had to get agents of the

new Queen, and millions more saw the service for the first time live on

television. For them, it was an excitement they could never forget.

What I remember most about the day, finally, was that it was horribly

cold. The weather was awful. I believe it was two degrees colder

than it became in December that year. But it did not stop people

sleeping in the streets, determined not to miss the opportunity of

seeing this fairytale procession. Into the forecourt of the palace and

through the gates comes the gilded coach. I was a junior footman in

those days. After breakfast, I went back to my room and started to

powder my hair, which consists of lathering your hair with soap,

leaving the soap in your hair and then sprinkling it with flour and

shaping it like a wig. Then my role was to walk by the left-hand wheel

on the Duke of Edinburgh's side of the carriage. Incredible. As the

coach went through the arched to go down the Mall, it was the roar of

the people. It was something I shall never forget. I was having my second

baby, which was very inconvenient at that moment. So I wore my wedding

dress, which had been severely let out for various bits of my anatomy,

and I remember we had to be there terribly early. The Abbey, of

course, was looking marvellous, shining and glittering and full of

people. The peers were all wearing their robes. There was quite a smell

of mothballs about, because they had all been put away for the whole of

the war. It was very noisy. Everyone was talking. Once the doors opened,

a hush came over for a booking. Everybody was expectant, and it all

went very quiet. Everyone was turning, waiting for her to come

down. It was a magical moment. stood and we picked the trainer, and

it had little satin handles underneath. The train rippled over

our hands, and we all stood there and she turned round and said ready,

girls? We said yes, and off we went. They were the first pictures. A few

steps in, the atmosphere had changed from our point of view. As soon as

the doors opened, we were working. It was fun, fast, and I was so much

to do. It was an exciting atmosphere. To see the Queen looking

so fragile, young and defenceless, somehow, with all the regalia going

on around her and that little lonely figure standing there, was somehow

terribly moving. It was somebody you knew, but in a new light, which

changes everything. God save the Queen! It was the most amazing day

of my life. People often say, your wedding must have been wonderful.

And I say, well, it was. But to be chosen to be made of honour at the

Queen's Coronation was the most wonderful day of my life.

members of the Royal Family are being greeted at the door. The Duke

of York and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, greeted by the clergy.

And now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry. All

eyes inevitably on the Duchess. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of

Cornwall, Camilla. And they are greeted by the Dean and the sub

Dean. They will wait here, at the West End of the Abbey, for the

arrival of her Majesty, the Queen. Then the four of them will process

up the nave with the Archbishop of Canterbury leading. There are the

canons of Westminster, the people who run the Cathedral, and then the

Royal Family. A single police motorcycle marks the arrival of the

Queen's car. Again, very little formality. Nothing like what

happened 60 years ago. The Dean moves forward to greet her to her

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moment, she will enter the Abbey for # I was glad when they said unto me:

# We will go into the house of the Lord.

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# Our feet shall stand in thy gates: # Jerusalem is builded as a city:

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# Vivat Regina. # Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

# Vivat, Vivat, Vivat. # Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

# Vivat, Vivat, Vivat. # O pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

they shall prosper that love thee. # O pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

they shall prosper that love thee. # Peace be within thy walls: and

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plenteousness within thy palaces. The Dean of Westminster, from the

high altar, gives the bidding. years ago, in this holy place Queen

Elizabeth II was clothed and after receiving symbols of authority,

crowned with the crown of St Edward, king and confessor, just as Her

Majesty's Royal predecessors from 1066. Here today we gather to give

thanks to all-mighty God for the faithful ministry and dutiful

service the Queen continues to offer God and the people of this nation,

the over teR territories and the realms and as head of the

Commonwealth. As we pray for Her Majesty, for the Duke of Edinburgh,

the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family, in

health and wealth long to live, and for peace and prosperity throughout

these lands, so shall we pray for the grace of God. That we too may

offer our lives in faithful service and wholehearted commitment for the

good of our communities and nations. Let us pray. All-mighty God, who

through anointing with the oil of gladness, at the hands of priest and

prove fetes, thus strengthen thy chosen servants with the gifts of

thy Holy Spirit, be pleased to accept our joyful praise as we give

thanks for the long and glorious reign of our sovereign lady, Queen

Elizabeth, and to receive our humble prayer, that by renewing thy

blessings thy will pour upon her thy gifts and upon all thy people, the

spirit of humility and service shown forht in the light and death --

forht. -- forht in our saviour, # God save our gracious queen

# Long live our noble queen # God Save The Queen

# Send her victorious # Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us # God Save The Queen... #

??LINERBREAK The Prime Minister, David Cameron, will read from the

Book of kings, the story of the anointing of Solomon by Kzadok the

priest. King David said call me David the Priest. And they came

before the king. The king also said unto them, take with you the

servants of your Lord and call Solomon my son to ride upon mine own

mule and bring him down. And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the

prophet anoint him there, king over Israel and blow yee with the trumpet

and say, God save king Solomon. Then you shall come up after him that he

may come and sit upon my throne, for he shall be king in my sted and I

have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Juda. And the son

answered the king and said, "Amen, the Lord God of my Lord the king say

so too." As the Lord has been with my Lord the king, even so be he with

Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my Lord, king

David. So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and the

pelophites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's

mule and brought him to bear and the priest took an horn of oil out of

the tavern and anointed Solomon and they blew the trumpet and all the

people said, God save king Solomon. And all the people came up after him

and the people piped with pipes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the

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representing all generations is escorting here a flask of oil from

the West End of the Abbey that will be placed on the high alter in

acknowledgement of the service the Queen has given since he was

anointed the the Coronation in one of the most sacred moments when she

dedicated herself to God and the people and and in that precession

carrying the oil a queen's guide who is training to be a methodist

minister and two children, Alexander who is six and muck tar, who is

eight. Behind them a Warrant Officer from the Ruth navy and Ruth Holt, a

nurse and then the lollipop lady and Dr Jacklin Coburn, a teacher and

then a judge, Mr Justice Cook and Lord Wallace, who sang here in the

Abbey at the Coronation and two Chelsea Pensioners drawing up the

rear Marjorie Cole and prat Rick Codey. Aged from six to their 90s,

carrying this oil to the aller, to be placed on the alter in memory of

that most sacred moment in the coronation service. The ash bishop

takes the oil and the Dean will place this on the high alter. --

archbishop takes the oil and the Dean will place it on the high

the coronation of Elizabeth, our queen, did set her apart for thy

service, anointing her with thy Holy Spirit, grant we be seedge besiege

thee, that strengthened by seven-fold gifts we will remain

faithful to our calling and active in thy service, through Jesus

Christ, our Lord, amen. Now, the Secretary General of the

Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma will read from the gospel according to St

Mark. James and John were sons of Zebedee and come to him saying,

master we shall do whatever we shall desire. He said unto them what shall

I do for you? They said unto him, grant us that we may sit one on thy

right hand and the other on thy left hand in thy glory. And Jesus said

unto them, you know not what you ask. Can you drink of the cup that I

drink of? And be baptised with the baptism that I'm baptised with? And

they said unto him, we can. And Jesus said unto them, you shall

indeed drink from the come that I drink of and with the baptism that I

am baptised shall all be baptised, but to sit on my right hand and my

left hand is not mine to give. But it shall be give be to -- given to

them for whom it is prepared. And when the men heard it and they began

to be much displeased with James and John. When Jesus called them to him

and said unto them, you know that they which are accounted to rule

over the gentiles exercise logic over them. And the great ones exile

authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you that who so ever

shall be great apong you shall be -- among you shall be all here and who

so ever shall be the chiefest shall be servant for even the son of man

came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And to give his life

for ransom for many. Now, the only hymn that was sung at the

coronation, especially arranged for the Coronation, his version of All

# All people that on earth do twele -- dwell

# Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice

# Him serve with fear, his phrase forth tell

# Come ye before him and rejoice # The Lord ye know is God indeed

# Without our aid he did us make # We are his folk, he doth us feed

# To Father, Son and Hole Ghost -- Holy Ghost

# The God whom heaven and earth adore

# From men and from the angel host # Be praise and glory everymore... #

Archbishop of Canterbury. In the name of the Father, and of the Sun

Whom soever would-be chief among you must be servant of all. A nation

watched. It was the first time the nation had watched anything as it

happened. But this, they saw. Pomp and ceremony on a rainy June day,

wrapped in time and custom. Very British. At its beginning was a

moment of deepest meaning that we have all forgotten. The figure at

the centre of events, the new Queen, goes alone not to be

coronation, but passed it to kneel at the altar in prayer. Before her,

the words "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of

our Lord and Christ". We do not know what was prayed. Her Majesty knelt

at the beginning of a path of demanding devotion and utter

self-sacrifice, a path she did not choose, yet to which she was called

by God. Today, we celebrate 60 years since that moment, 60 years of

commitment. There was a trumpet fanfare today as the Queen arrived

with her supporters. But let us resist the splendour of the

spectacle for a moment and focus on what was meant. Not my will, Lord,

but yours be done. And following Her Majesty's giving of allegiance to

God, others, especially with such equal and dedicated commitment, the

Duke of Edinburgh, pledged their allegiance to her. And here, in the

grace and providence of God, is the model of liberty and authority which

our country enjoys. Liberty is only real when it exists under

authority. Liberty under authority begins, as the book of Common prayer

puts it, with our duty to God, whose service is perfect freedom. We live

in a hierarchy of liberty under authority that ascends to God's

limitless love. As we see in the life of Jesus, with God, justice and

mercy are perfectly joined, wisdom is unlimited, generosity is

unstinting and love pours out to the whole world in an overwhelming

embrace that is offered universally and abundantly. A nation that crowns

its head of state with such a model of liberty under authority expresses

commitment to the same glorious values for itself. In those moments

of prayer as symbolised the basis for the greatness of this country.

In their silence lies God's call. In their humility lies God's authority.

In their resulting service lies God's perfect freedom. What follows

is the joy of security that comes from obeying God alone. Such

consecration to God is followed by a crown. When we obey God's call,

whoever we are, leading government or quietly serving our local

community, we establish a country that is openhanded and openhearted,

serving others with joy. In such service, we become Britain at its

best. We know how to celebrate, as again last year in the Olympics. We

know how to comfort and grieve, as on the streets of Woolwich and the

courage of passers-by and the police. Yet we are not always and

everywhere at our best. We celebrate today not liberty by itself, which

in human weakness turns to selfishness, but liberty under the

authority of God. We are never more free, nor better, than when we are

under the authority of God. Her Majesty the Queen is servant of the

King of Kings, and so she serves as as we serve her, in liberty and

under authority. It is a system that points to freedom in God, in whose

love alone we are fully human, fully free. The choir will now sing the

anthem that was specially commissioned for this service by

former choristers who were at the Abbey in the Coronation, written by

one of our leading composers of call work. The King Shall Rejoice.

# The King shall rejoice in thy strength, O Lord: exceeding glad

shall he be of thy salvation. # Thou hast given him his heart's

desire: and hast not denied him the request of his lips.

# For thou shalt prevent him with the blessings of goodness: and shalt

set a crown of pure gold upon his # He asked life of thee, and thou

gavest him a long life: even for ever and ever.

# His honour is great in thy salvation: glory and great worship

shalt thou lay upon him. # For thou shalt give him

everlasting felicity: and make him glad with the joy of thy

countenance. # O Lord, make thy servant Elizabeth

our Queen to rejoice in thy strength.

# Give her her heart's desire, and deny not the request of her lips.

# But prevent her with thine everlasting blessing, and give her a

long life, even for ever and ever. # But prevent her with thine

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everlasting blessing, and give her a of Christian churches from across

the United Kingdom. In celebration and trust, let us pray to the Lord

and giver of life. We give thanks to God for his gracious gifts so freely

bestowed on our sovereign lady, Queen Elizabeth, throughout these

past 60 years. , for constancy and step, and for fortitude and courage

both in prosperity and adversity. Us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. We

give thanks to God for the Queen's long and glorious reign, for her

devotion to duty and to the peoples of the United Kingdom, the overseas

territory and the realms, and the Commonwealth, for her sustained

support of the Armed Forces and civil powers and for her unswerving

commitment to the peaceful, democratic principles of these

lands. Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. We give thanks to God for

Her Majesty's example of humble service, for her commitment to the

needs of others, for her affectionate service of her peoples

and for the strength and inspiration she fosters in the nation. Let us

bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. pray that as our sovereign lady has

been strengthened by her belief and trust in Almighty God, so we and all

people of faith may grow and be nurtured in love, and know his peace

in our lives. Lord, in thy mercy, hear our prayer. We pray for those

who bear the Queen's authority, for all who have been elected to public

office, for those who serve in the forces of the Crown, especially

those currently engaged in theatres of conflict, and for those were

polled and maintain justice, that, inspired by a vision of Christ's

glory, all my know one another and seek the common good. Lord, in thy

mercy, hear our prayer. We pray for the Queen and all members of the

Royal Family, that they may have health of Wadi and mind, -- body and

mind, continue to serve the needs of others and all hope and joy in

believing. Lord, in thy mercy, hear our prayer. All visa prayers and

praises. Let us begin -- bring to the throne of grace as we say a

prayer that Jesus taught us. 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 thien is

the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever, amen. The poem

will be read by Claire Skinner. crown translates a woman to a queen.

Endless gold circling itself and oh, like a well, fathomless for the

years to drown in. History's bride anointed, blessed for a crowning.

One head alone can know its weight on throne and feel it still in

private space which it's lifted. Not a hollow thing, but a measuring. No

halo, treasure, but a valuing, decades and duty. Time gifted the

crown is old light, journeying from skulls of kings to living queen. The

jewels glow, virtues. Loyalties ruby, blood deep, sapphires ice

resilience, emerald, evergreen, the shy pearl, humility, my whole life

whether it be long or short devoted to your service. Not lightly worn.

Let us pray. Oh, eternal God, whose chosen servant, Elizabeth, our

queen, has for 60 years worn a crown of glory and rich usness, in humble

duty and devotion to thee, grant that we, her people, knowing whose

authority she has, may serve, honour and obey her in thee and for thee,

after the example of him who is the servant to king, Jesus Christ, our

the king of creation -- almighty, the king of creation

# Oh, my soul praise him, for he is the thy health and salvation

# Come ye who hear # Brothers and sisters draw near

# Praise him in glad adoration # Praise to the Lord, who oer all

things so wondrous wondrously reign # Shelters thee under his wings yea

so gent gently sustaineth # Hastthou not seen

# All that is needful hath been # Granted in what he ordaineth

# Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee

# All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him

# Let the amen # Sound from the his people again

# Gadly for ay we adore him... # ??LINERBREAK God grant to the living

grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth

and all mankind, peace and Concorde and to our sinners life everlasting

and the blessing of God all-might, the Father, the Son and the Holy

Spirit, about among you and remain with you always, amen. The service

ends with the long and complex Coronation Today, written by William

Walton, for the Coronation in 1953. He came here to rehearse the choir

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acknowledge thee to be the Lord # All the earth dth -- -- oth --

doht -- doth worship thee, the father ever lasting

# To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein

# To thee Cherubin and Sepaphin do cry holy, holy, holy, Lord God of

Sabbath # The glorious company of the aps --

apostles praise thee # The goodly fellowship of the prove

fetes praise thee # The noble army martyrs praise thee

# The holy church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee

# The father of all the infinite Majesty

# Thien honourable, true and only # Also the Holy Ghost and comfort

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Queen processes out, lead by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with his

cross and the Dean of Westminster. Followed by all the Royal Family.

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They're on their way out, as the The Duke looking very sprightly,

despite what was said. He was a crucial figure in the creation of

the Coronation itself, 60 years ago. It whas job to chair the committee

that decided how the service -- was his job to chair the committee that

decided how the service would be conducted. The Queen and the Duke

leave the Abbey to go back to Buckingham Palace. A different day

in so many days from that day 60 years ago, when the Queen came here

to be crowned. The weather's different. Sunshine instead of

torrential rain, but it's also a very different country from the one

she knew back in 1953. This private person, the Queen, in a very public