Couples who were married in the same year as The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attended a service at the Cathedral to celebrate the Royal Diamond Wedding.
On Sunday (18 November), the Cathedral held a special service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Royal Diamond Wedding. The service included 500 local people — all of whom were married in 1947, the same year as The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The service included some of the very same music performed at the Royal Wedding on the 20 November 1947. It was coordinated by the Cathedral and the Lord Lieutenant’s office, and a number of local dignitaries attended, including the Lord Lieutenants of East and West Sussex, the High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex, The Duke and Duchess of Richmond, the Mayors of Chichester and Brighton and Hove, and a number of other local dignitaries. The Dean and Bishop of Chichester also attended.
Meanwhile, resources have been offered to any churches wishing to mark the 60th wedding anniversary, including a selection of suitable prayers and readings.
Prayers for the 60th anniversary of the Marriage of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Tuesday 20 November 2007 marks the 60th anniversary of the Marriage of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
The following resources are offered for those who wish to commemorate this anniversary
Bidding prayer
We gather today to rejoice on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the marriage of our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
We remember with great gratitude their unity and commitment, their faith, and their many years of service. We ask that God will continue to sustain them in their life together, and so continue to enrich our common life.
We pray also for all the peoples of this nation and Commonwealth; for peace, and righteousness, and prosperity; that we may seek at all times the things that are true, the things that endure.
And so let us gather our prayers and praises into one in the words our Saviour gave us: Our Father, who art in heaven...
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Eternal God,
we offer our thanks that through our earthly lives
you speak of your eternal life.
We rejoice in the wonder of creation, the gift of human life and love,
and the many blessings that our relationships bring.
Especially this day we give thanks for Elizabeth our Queen,
for Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
and for all who with them celebrate sixty years of marriage.
Renew in them the fruits of your Holy Spirit;
that love, joy and peace may abound in the homes of our nation and the Commonwealth;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from the Golden Wedding anniversary service held in Westminster Abbey, 20 November 1997
Prayers for Her Majesty The Queen
O Lord our heavenly Father,
high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of Lords, the only Ruler of princes,
who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth;
most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour
to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth;
and so replenish her with the grace of thy Holy Spirit,
that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way:
endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts;
grant her in health and wealth long to live;
strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies;
and finally, after this life, she may attain everlasting joy and felicity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,
bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth,
and all who are in authority under her;
that they may order all things
in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace,
to the honour of your name,
and the good of your Church and people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Common Worship
A Prayer for the Royal Family
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,
we humbly beseech thee to bless, Philip Duke of Edinburgh,
Charles Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family.
Endue them with thy Holy Spirit;
enrich them with thy heavenly grace;
prosper them with all happiness;
and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer
Readings
Common Worship provides the following selection of readings for use on occasions when the Sovereign is particularly remembered within worship
Joshua 1.1-9; Proverbs 8.1-16
Psalms 20; 101; 121
Romans 13.1-10; Revelation 21.22-22:4
Matthew 22.16-22; Luke 22.24-30
The following passages of Scripture were read at the royal Golden Wedding service in Westminster Abbey in 1997