A Service of Thanksgiving to Mark Queen Elizabeth’s 90th Birthday

“No one at The Queen’s birth knew for what she was destined. Today we recognise that God knew,” the Archbishop of Canterbury said today during a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

And indeed has the Queen proven over her lifetime her dedication to the destiny that was allocated to her.

53 members of the British Royal Family attended the service at St Paul’s Cathedral this morning, as did top-level politicians and Governor-Generals from around the Commonwealth. Prayers were read by representatives of five aspects of the Queen’s life – the church, horse racing, the Royal Household, the law, the Armed Forces, and the Commonwealth, while a sixth was given by the Queen’s birthday twin Hilda Price.

For the event (to which Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrived late due to a car accident on their route – but a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday for the Prince, whose 95th birthday is today, from the cheering crowd greeted them), Elizabeth wore a primrose yellow outfit designed by Angela Kelly with a matching hat.

The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge both opted for pale blue – Camilla in a Bruce Oldfield ice blue coat and matching dress  with a hat from Philip Treacy, Catherine in a pale blue coat from Catherine Walker with intricate white lace appliqués along the front.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie brought their A-game for the service, the elder of the sisters in a Burberry geometric printed black and cream coat, and the younger in a bold red midi-length dress from Eponine London with a navy bow fascinator (outfit of the day, in this blogger’s opinion!).

The Princess Royal, never one for buying a new outfit when she can find a perfectly good outfit from the 1980s in her wardrobe, repeated a cream and brown suit with matching feathered hat.

The Countess of Wessex kept it simple in a pale grey outfit from Suzannah with a Jane Taylor hat, while her daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor went for a pink coat over a floral chiffon dress, and even wore white flowers in her hair.

Zara Phillips wore a black and blue floral printed dress from Erdem, while Autumn Phillips opted for a deep green frock with cream and olive-toned accessories.

The Duchess of Gloucester kept it simple in a grey suit with pillbox hat and pearls.

From the Kent branch: Princess Michael in cream and a large mass of feathers, Lady Gabriella Windsor in a red fitted coat with a cream Philip Treacy hat, and Lady Frederick Windsor in coral. Princess Alexandra was bright and cheery in a multi-coloured floral coat.

Lady Sarah Chatto was her usual elegant self in an a-line navy and white stripped skirt with a plain navy blouse and cardigan, while her sister-in-law Serena thought a 60s-themed blue and yellow dress with matching pillbox-style hat to be the best option.

We will have much more coverage over the next week as we hit one of the busiest royal weeks on the British calendar!

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Birthday, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Fashion.

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