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HM The Queen and senior Royals to attend St Paul's service for Afghanistan

27 February 2015

Afghanistan order of serviceHer Majesty The Queen will attend the service of commemoration at St Paul's to mark combat operations in Afghanistan.

At the service, to be held on Friday 13 March at 11am and broadcast live on BBC1, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be accompanied by The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, The Duke of York and The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Defence, Service Chiefs and other senior political and military figures will also attend. They will be alongside members of the Armed Forces, veterans, the next of kin of deceased personnel, representatives of military and aid charities and organisations, and the UK’s NATO allies in Afghanistan from 2001 - 2014. Representatives of the Afghan nation will also be present, together with leaders of world faiths.

Following the service, The Prince of Wales will take the salute as a parade of personnel who served in Afghanistan from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force, and veterans, supported by military bands and Pipes and Drums will make their way from St Paul’s to receptions at Guildhall hosted by the City of London Corporation, and at the Honourable Artillery Company, attended by members of the Royal Family, for those who attended the service and those who took part in the parade. 
 
During the parade, a flypast of aircraft used in the campaign, including Chinook, Apache and Sea King Helicopters, and Hercules and Tornado aircraft will fly over the parade and Cathedral in tribute.
 
The service will remember those who have died and are injured, as well as all who served in Afghanistan, and prayers will also be offered for the people of Afghanistan who have also died or suffered in the conflict. During the service, a cross made of shell casings that adorned a memorial wall in Camp Bastion will be blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
 
In 2009, The Queen also attended a similar service to mark the end of operations in Iraq.
 
SERVICE DETAILS
Bidding Prayer - The Very Reverend David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral
Reflection - led by The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral; with The Right Reverend Nigel Stock, Bishop to HM Forces; and chaplains to HM Forces
Remembrance - led by The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, during which the Camp Bastion cross will be rededicated
Address - The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Prayers of Intercession - led by the Reverend Rosemary Morton, Succentor of St Paul’s Cathedral; and service personnel; and relatives
An Act of Commitment to the Common Good - led by the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Richard Chartres, Bishop of London
Blessing - The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Musicians - Service sung by the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, conducted by Andrew Carwood, Director of Music. Simon Johnson, Organist and Assistant Director of Music, will play during the service
Music
Kyrie from Messe de Requiem, Maurice Durufle
The song of the tree of life, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Strengthen ye the weak hands, William Harris
God so loved the world, John Stainer
Hymns
God is Love: let heav’n adore him (Blaenwern)
For the healing of the nations (Westminster Abbey)
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us (Mannheim)
Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Hyfrydol)
Bells - Half-muffled before the service; Unmuffled after the service
Attendance at the service will be allocated to various groups who are connected to the operation. 
No tickets are available through St Paul's.
Invitations to the service for the next of kin of deceased service personnel will be issued in February via the single service welfare offices. 
Invitations to the armed forces will be issued by their respective Service. 
Further details on the event will be announced in due course on www.gov.uk
 
A press operations note detailing media accreditation will be issued via the Ministry of Defence.

The Queen arrives behind the Pearl Sword for the 2009 Iraq service
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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at the Iraq service in 2009
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The Duke of Cambridge also attended the service for Iraq in 2009
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Service personnel fill St Paul's for the Iraq service in 2009
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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will preach at the service
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