2022
HRH Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)
Requiescat in Pace
The Proclamation of King Charles III, Sunday 11th September 2022, 3.00 pm.
The Royal Proclamation ceremony was attended by several thousand people in the Cathedral Green. The choir sang the hymn O God Our Help in Ages Past and two verses of the National Anthem. The ceremony was followed by evensong, with installation of new choral scholars, lay vicar and organ scholar, as well as investiture of the senior choristers.
Marmalade tea
Reflecting on Her Late Majesty’s famous appearance with Paddington Bear, The Revd Canon Cate Edmonds prepared a marmalade sandwich tea for the Girl Choristers of Exeter Cathedral. Throughout the period of National Mourning, the Choristers worked overtime to provide music for special ceremonies and services at the cathedral. From email weekly newsletter Exeter Cathedral Life, 16.09.2022. Photo by Russell Sach.
Queen Elizabeth visited the Cathedral several times and heard the choir. This included for the Royal Maundy in 1983 and as part of her Golden Jubilee tour in 2002. One of her early visits was in 1949:
Princess Elizabeth is presented with a gift by the Head Chorister, Geoffrey Mitchell, 21st October 1949.
From Getty images: The head choirboy of Exeter Cathedral presents Princess Elizabeth with a stone box on the first day of her royal tour of Devon and Cornwall.
Photographed in the nave.
Geoffrey Mitchell, chorister 1944-1950, was Head Chorister at the time of the royal visit. He can still remember what he said to HRH: "Will your Royal Highness be pleased to accept this little gift, made by one of our own workmen, out of old Cathedral stone?". (information from Geoffrey Mitchell, March 2021).