The Queen is dead; Long live the King!
8 Sep. 2022
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
It has happened. Although we knew it was inevitable, it was shocking when it was announced. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, my gracious sovereign came to the end of her earthly life. She was the only monarch I ever knew throughout my life. I was surprised how hard it actually has effected me. I was never fortunate enough to meet the Queen, but through reading plenty, and seeing her so often on the telly, I felt that I had come to know something about her. She was a constant presence, a rock of stability in a turbulent age. As a Canadian, I was proud to claim her as my monarch. Now, she is gone.
Her Majesty, the late Queen was truly an extraordinary woman and monarch. She ascended the throne at the young age of twenty-five, reigning for seventy years. During her reign she has had fifteen Prime Ministers. Her reign encompassed fourteen American presidents, and seven Popes. Although slowing down in recent years, she continued to perform her royal duties, and handing some of them over to other members of the Royal Family. Despite being a faithful wife and loving mother, she lived the majority of her life without much of a private life. She truly gave herself in service to the peoples of her realms. Now, she is gone.
What now? At the moment of her death, her eldest son, the Prince of Wales became His Majesty, Charles III, by the grace of God, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of his other realms and territories, Duke of Normandy, Lord of Mann, Defender of the Faith. His Majesty's siblings and children would have made their homage to him, taking their oaths of loyalty to him. His wife, Camilla, is now Her Majesty, the Queen Consort. His eldest son, His Royal Highness, William, Duke of Cambridge, will eventually be invested as Prince of Wales and Duke of Rothesay, heir apparent to the throne.
On Friday, 9 September, King Charles III will leave Balmoral Castle in Scotland and travel to London to meet with the Accession Council, taking his royal oath and being proclaimed by them publicly in Friary Court at the Palace of St. James with these or similar words, which were used at the accession of his mother, our late Queen:
"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second
of Blessed and Glorious memory, by whose Decease the Crown is solely
and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince Charles Philip Arthur George:
WE, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm,
being here assisted with these Her late Majesty's Privy Council, with
representatives of other Members of the Commonwealth, with other
Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
Citizens of London, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue
and Heart publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of
happy memory, become King Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of this Realm and of all His other Realms and Territories, Head of
the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom His lieges do
acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience with hearty and humble
Affection, beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless
the Royal Prince Charles the Third with long and happy Years to
reign over us."
At no point is there no monarch. Hence the saying, "The Queen is dead; Long live the King." During the next seven days King Charles will meet with the British Prime Minister and the members of Parliament to receive their condolences and oaths of allegiance, and will travel to several memorial services in Edinburgh, Belfast, and Cardiff. In the meantime, the Queen's body will be brought to the Royal Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh, with a service of reception at St. Giles' Cathedral. From there, her body will be brought to London by either the Royal Train or by plane, where she will lay in state for five days in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace for the visitation and prayers of the members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries. Her body will be moved to Westminster Hall to lay in state for three days for visitation by the public. From there, her body will be brought to Westminster Abbey for the funeral service conducted by His Grace, Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury. After the funeral, her body will be brought to the crypt of St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle to be laid next to that of her late beloved husband Prince Philip, and her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Almighty God, You are the author and sustainer of all human life, grant that your servant, Elizabeth our Queen, whom you granted a long and happy reign as Monarch of these lands, maybe forgiven her sins and rewarded with that eternal life promised to all those born again in the water of baptism and power of Your Spirit. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
Almighty God, source of all consolation, we pray for the members of the Royal Family who mourn the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Uphold them in Your love, and pour out on them the consolation of Your Spirit. let them find in Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, comfort in their sadness, certainty in their doubt, and courage to live through this hour. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
O God, to whom every human power is subject, grant to your servant, His Majesty, King Charles III, wisdom in exercise of his high office, so that, always revering You, and striving to please You, he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care the freedom that comes from security and peace. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
As we celebrate the earthly birthday of Our Lady, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, lead our late Queen into her heavenly birthday.
Comments
Post a Comment