‘We remember together an extraordinary person – Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – whom many of us have known of throughout our lives. Not only was she Queen, sovereign, she was also someone who believed that leadership meant dedicating her life to the service of others.

She sought to commit herself, nurtured by her Christian faith, on her 21st birthday to serve those she reigned over.

“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service … God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it.”

She affirmed that vow at her Coronation, when she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, at age 27.

As we process and reflect upon the death of the Queen, we may find we are reminded of those close to us whom we have lost. It is important to give ourselves the time to remember what we loved about them, why they were special to us, and acknowledge the sadness of losing them.

The love will have been enough; all those impulses of love return to the love that made them. Even memory is not necessary for love.’ *

For further resources please visit the Church of England website at https://www.churchofengland.org