Princess Anne had the
most hilarious reaction to the Archbishop of York’s message to her mother, the
Queen, at the Thanksgiving Service on Friday. The special occasion was sadly
not attended by Her Majesty, who has been struggling with “mobility issues” and
was unable to attend, but the Archbishop had her family smiling as he
compared her reign to a horse race.
Speaking to the congregation,
he said: “It is well known that Her Majesty likes horse racing. I don’t have
any great tips for the Derby tomorrow, but since the scriptures describe life
as a race set before us, let me observe that her long reign reflects the
distance of Aintree more than the sprints of Epsom. Certainly, less dressage
than most people imagine.”
During his speech, the camera
caught the likes of Zara Tindall and the Duke of Cambridge smiling fondly at
his kind words about their grandmother. However, Princess Anne was
particularly impressed when he suggested that the Queen’s 70-year reign was a
distance rather than a sprint, giving an amused nod at his words.
The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell
continued: “Your Majesty, we’re sorry you’re not with us this morning in
person, but you are still in the saddle. And we are all glad that there is
still more to come.” The Reverend stepped in at late notice to deliver the
sermon after the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby,
contracted Covid-19.
 |
The Princess Royal entering the Service of Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving Service has
seen the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Princess
Eugenie and Beatrice and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex unite as part of the
Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
flew from LA for the festivities with their two children, Archie and Lilibet,
and it has been reported that they have finally introduced their daughter, who
turns one on Saturday, to the Queen.
