A prayer for the day of the Queen’s funeral service in Westminster Abbey

Very Rev Prof David Fergusson, Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland, has offered us a prayer for Her Majesty The Queen on the day of her funeral service in Westminster Abbey. The prayer is based on one originally written for Queen Victoria.

"The Chapel Royal in Scotland has been closely involved in the arrangements in the days immediately following her death," Professor Fergusson said.

"These have included the devotions at Balmoral led by her local parish minister, the successive nightly vigils at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St Giles Cathedral, the Service of Thanksgiving, and her final departure for London.

"As Dean, I have been involved in the planning of these events, and I was honoured to be included in the party that accompanied the coffin on the RAF flight to Northolt.

"Driving through the streets and motorways of our two capital cities, we sensed the tides of emotion from the thousands of people of all ages who had gathered to show their respect and affection for our late Queen.

"I look forward with a sense of privilege to attending her funeral service in Westminster Abbey."

Almighty and eternal God,
you uphold and govern all things both in heaven and on earth,
and by your grace alone the monarchs of this world bear rule.

We thank you for all the blessings which you have bestowed upon us
through our late sovereign, Queen Elizabeth,
whom you called from this life in recent days.

We thank you for the wisdom of her guidance and her love of peace,
for the care with which she served her people,
for the example of her gracious life,
and for the wellbeing which this nation has enjoyed
during her happy reign.

We pray that you would fill our hearts
with gratitude for all these good things,
and to give us grace that we may use the memory of them
as a perpetual call to live according to your will,
for the good of all the world,
and the glory of your great name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Professor Fergusson flew with Her Majesty's coffin and the Princess Royal on the journey to London from St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, and will be in attendance at the Queen's funeral in Westminster Abbey alongside the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, who will be reciting a prayer at the service.