Moray pays final tributes to Her Majesty The Queen
Moray has paid its final tributes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a Service of Thanksgiving and in a letter of condolence to King Charles III.
Local representatives, including councillors and those from the Armed Forces and emergency services, attended the multi-faith service at St Giles in Elgin on Friday 23 September.
Led by Rev. Deon Oelofse, Parish Minister Elgin St Giles and St Columba’s South, the service included reflections on the life of The Queen, alongside readings and a poem by written by pupils at West End Primary School.
Speaking after the service, His Majesty The King’s Lord-Lieutenant for Moray, Major General Seymour Monro, said: “This Service of Thanksgiving was Moray’s remembrance of and thank you to Her Majesty. We enjoyed a wonderful combination of lovely prayers, readings, and poetry specially written for this Service. There was a charming rendering of The Skye Boat Song and great music from the organist and Gordonstoun Pipe Band. Bishop Mark Strange gave a superb Reflection.
“This Service was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. There was a very special atmosphere and I am grateful to all who made it so. It was a fine note on which to end our official mourning in Moray for our late Sovereign who was as fond of Moray as we were of her.”
Moray Council’s Civic Leader, Cllr John Cowe, has written to His Majesty The King with the condolences of the region and added: “As we reflected upon the life of service from Her Majesty The Queen, our thoughts also turn to her family and those she leaves behind.
“I was asked by Council to send the condolences of the people of Moray to the Royal Family and I do so with our heartfelt best wishes to His Majesty King Charles III, who deserves our unwavering support for the reign he now begins.”
Rev. Deon Oelofse gave his thoughts: “The Service of Thanksgiving was once again an opportunity for the people of Moray to share the great sense of community. The Queen during her life and reign was one that understood the importance of community and service, both virtues rooted in her Christian faith.
“We are once again reminded of our own call to serve one another and hopefully rediscover our sense of community as we move into the future. This is one of the most importance memories The Queen will leave behind and I hope that we as a community will embrace her example of service and care. As we celebrate her life, our thoughts and prayers are with King Charles III and the rest of the Royal Family at this time.”
Text of the Civic Leader’s letter is as follows:
May I, on behalf of the Moray Council and the people of Moray, extend our most sincere condolences to His Majesty the King and all the Royal family in the very sad loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
A loss that has been deeply felt here in Moray and indeed throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.
Moray was proud to have enjoyed strong links with Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, which was evident in the celebrations of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, the Moray Badge and the Queen’s Green Canopy.
The outpouring of affection for Her Majesty in the floral tributes, signing of the Books of Condolence and attendance at the public Proclamation for King Charles III was felt throughout our towns and villages.
An Interdenominational Service of Thanksgiving was held at St Giles Church, Elgin on 23 September, attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, his Deputes, the Armed Forces, Moray Councillors and members of the public.
The service was our way to say Thank You to Our Sovereign for her lifetime of devotion and service to our country with music, blessings, readings and poetry specially written for the service, accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of Gordonstoun School.
The people of Moray pledge unwavering allegiance to His Majesty the King as he undertakes his duties as Monarch and wish him God’s blessings in all his endeavours.