PRINCES William and Harry have invited the Archbishop of Canterbury to compose a special prayer in memory of their mother to be said at this month’s memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.
Rowan Williams’s prayer for Diana, Princess of Wales, is also likely to be circulated to Anglican parishes around the country to mark the anniversary on August 31.
Mourners at the service, which will be shown on BBC1, will be led by the Queen and other senior members of the royal family. Gordon Brown and his two predecessors as prime minister – Tony Blair and Sir John Major – are also expected to be present at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks, London.
The prayer is expected to reflect Williams’s strong feelings about the death of Diana. Writing shortly after her fatal car crash, he described the response from the public as “a potent lament for a lost sacredness, a magical and highly personal but equally a ritualised focus for public loyalty”.
The idea that Mrs. Parker-Bowles has a duty to attend is extraordinary.
Indeed. And the criticism of the princes’ invitations is galling, too. I don’t blame them one bit for excluding those who profited from their mother’s death. Memorial services are for the living and the princes’ wishes must prevail and be respected.
The concert they put together celebrating their mum was a wonderful event. I think it’s lovely that they are actively coordinating the religious service, too.
Oh the fatuity of an established church. The woman was not a Christian and she had a number of affairs after the breakup of her marriage to the Clown Prince. Is this a service of intercession for the dead? Sorry, not part of Anglicanism.
These boys had a very expensive private education. Why are they bothering poor, over busy Rowan with their smug condescension? Did they never learn to write a prayer themselves in Creative Writing? Or couldn’t Harry pay one of his ex-teachers, like the one who did his course work for him?
I’ve been trying to work out what it is about this that concerned me and so far as I can articulate it, it is this:
If this a state occassion where it is appropriate for the CofE to be involved with writing and distributing prayers to parishes then the guest list and arrangements should be those appropriate to a state occassion, not a private royal household service.
If however it is a private royal family occassion, then of course they can include or exclude whoever they please on private whim; but then it is not appropriate to use the machinery of the Church of England for such a private occassion.
The confusion of these two is unsatisfactory and risks:
1. reawakening real memories of the exclusion of the Princess when her title of HRH was removed by the Queen along with the adultery of the Prince of Wales with Mrs. Parker-Bowles. I can still remember the widespread anger: shown in the Cathedral by the many ladies who curtsied to the coffin as it passed; and the loud approving reaction to the criticism made by Earl Spencer; and more importantly –
2. Embroiling the CofE in this.
Nobody learns!
It is apparent that as long as there is a House of Windsor, there will be an ABC to help lend support to that dysfunctional family’s affairs.
Lawhead’s ‘Avalon’ isn’t far off the mark, though Lawhead’s ABC was characterized as having more of a spine that the real one.
What the heck, just sing the Paul Anka anthem, Ro!
I’m so young and you’re so old
This my darling I’ve been told.
I don’t care what they say
Oh my darling this I pray
Please stay with me, Di-a-na!
Pageantmaster,
From what I’ve read, the princes are planning and coordinating the memorial service for their mother and it seems to be as a private a service as they can get, considering their status, not a state or public occasion. They can ask whomever they want to participate, as I did when planning my mum’s funeral. The article says that +++Rowan’s prayer would likely be distributed for use but it doesn’t say it will be added to the cycle of prayer or commanded to be read.
The sons are members of the C of E, as was their mum, and I think their choice of location makes clear that this is a personal remembrance, which they have every right as private individuals to coordinate.
You are quite right teatime.
The death of the childrens’ mother is a tragedy. However the theft of the poor of England’s money is a travesty, and the fact that a church of Christ has for centuries justified it is abominable. God has strong words for those who steal from the poor to give to the wealthy.
Umm, quite.