Christopher Smith   The thing we were all expecting but somehow putting out of mind has happened, and it is strange to think that this time last month we were expecting a change of Head of Government, but not a [...]

As she moved through her tenth decade, age – inevitably, inexorably – caught up with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, of blessed memory. Little by little she stooped more. She resisted for some time but sported a stick for some months. [...]

Three years as an Honorary Chaplain to her Majesty not only permitted the privilege of wearing a scarlet cassock (double breasted in her presence) and sending the Royal Household Christmas card but also the opportunity to meet from time to [...]

Martin Draper is inspired by a popular Welsh hymn   There is a sense in which the English Hymnal of 1906, though primarily a ‘companion’ to the Church’s ‘common prayer’, was rooted in the natural world. With its green cover [...]

Jonathan Baker finds literary and liturgical highlights in the funeral services   The rites used at Her Late Majesty’s funeral liturgies were resonant, solemn, dignified and drew deeply from the wells of Anglican tradition. The ceremonial was simple but assured, [...]

Simon Walsh reflects on working with the Queen and her Lying-in-State   During my public relations career, I was fortunate to work on two events which involved Her Majesty the Queen – or Her Late Majesty, as we must now [...]

Zareer Masani writes on the Queen and the Commonwealth   As one of Midnight’s Children, born just after India achieved independence, I was an unlikely royalist. And yet, ever since I can remember, I was fascinated by kings and queens, [...]

Philip Corbett was there   When the news came in that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was seriously unwell and that members of the Royal Family were travelling to Balmoral it was difficult to know what it all really meant, or [...]

David Houlding  was in St Paul’s Cathedral for the monarch’s words as everyone tried to process the news and come to terms with what was happening   Suddenly, breaking the silence which had pervaded the whole Cathedral, the King’s voice [...]

Luke Miller reports on the plans and efforts to connect Church with people   For ages now I have kept safe a piece of paper marked ‘official sensitive’ (which basically means ‘don’t email it, don’t leave it on the photocopier’) [...]