The Archbishop of York has compared The Queen’s long reign to ”the distance of Aintree rather than the sprint of Epsom” as he gave the sermon at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Platinum Jubilee.
The Most Revd. Stephen Cottrell raised smiles from the Royal Family, in particular the Princess Royal, as he used horse racing analogies to describe the 70 year rule of The Queen. Adding that her life was ”less dressage than most people imagine”, he went on ”with endurance through times of change and challenge, you continue to offer yourself in the service of our country and the Commonwealth.”
The Archbishop was called on to preach the sermon after the Archbishop of Canterbury contracted Covid.
The congregation, led by the Prince of Wales after The Queen decided ”with reluctance” not to attend having suffered discomfort during Trooping the Colour,’ heard Stephen Cottrell praise Her Majesty’s devotion to duty.
And the Archbishop spoke directly to The Queen, saying ”We all know that The Queen likes horse racing. And Your Majesty, I am rather assuming you are perhaps watching this on the television and I’m afraid I haven’t any great tips for the Derby tomorrow”, comments which raised big smiles from the Princess Royal and Zara Tindall.
Stephen Cottrell continued ”Your Majesty, we are sorry you are not here with us this morning but we are so glad that you are still in the saddle and we are glad that there is still more to come.”
It was one of many joyful moments in a service which also included a new anthem written for the Platinum Jubilee by Judith Weir.
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge formed the royal procession. There was also a rare public appearance from the Duchess of Kent while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen publicly with the Royal Family for the first time in over two years.
