Morrison, Hurley attend memorial church service for Duke of Edinburgh
As the world continued to mourn the loss of Prince Philip, Australian dignitaries gathered at a Sydney church to commemorate his life.
As the world continued to mourn the loss of Prince Philip, Australian dignitaries gathered at a Sydney church to commemorate his life. Scott Morrison and Governor-General David Hurley were among the crowd of people packed into St Andrew’s’ Cathedral on Sunday to pay their respects.
The Prime Minister and Mr Hurley were joined by their wives and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. NSW Police Minister David Elliott was present, and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley was represented by her secretary Michael Miller.
“This world remains a vale of tears, yet in the midst of dying we proclaim life in Christ,” Dean of Sydney Kanishka Raffel said in his opening remarks.
“We have been deeply saddened by the news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.”
Prince Philip — who had visited the cathedral on many occasions — was praised throughout the service for his compassion, warmth and generosity.
A large portrait of the royal couple stood sentinel to a book of condolences at the alter, which the distinguished guests were invited to write in at the close of the service.
The public was later permitted to sign its sympathies, which will be collated with physical and online condolence books from across the country and sent to Buckingham Palace.
Australia will also archive a copy to be displayed at national institutions, and form part of a “lasting record” of the country’s “close relationship with the duke over many decades,” a spokesman for the Prime Minister said.
Some 12,500 messages were received via the federal government’s online condolence form within the first 24 hours of its opening, and submissions will continue to be accepted over the coming weeks.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior military leaders and representatives from the Duke of Edinburgh Award will be invited to Government House in the near future to sign their own condolences.
“Today it’s been a great honour and privilege to gather here in one of the great cities in the world, as part of the Commonwealth, to lead prayers for Her Majesty,” Mr Morrison said upon leaving the cathedral.
“(It has been) an opportunity for the world to pray for the royal family and her majesty in her profound sorrow.”
A 41-gun salute in Canberra honoured Philip on Saturday.
St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne and St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide are set to hold special services in the coming days.
Flags on all NSW government buildings were flown at half-mast on Saturday, including the Sydney Harbour and Anzac bridges.
This same protocol will apply next Saturday, the day of Philip’s funeral.
The government is yet to confirm when a national memorial will be held, but it is expected to be put on after the UK concludes its official proceedings.
It is yet to be confirmed who will represent Australia at the formal affairs in Britain.
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