(ITN)
The Reverend Iain Greenshields of the Church of Scotland highlighted Queen Elizabeth II’s “deep ties” to the country and its people in his homily during a service of prayer and reflection for the Queen at the cathedral on Monday of St Giles.
In Scotland “we acknowledge with gratitude his deep ties to our land and its people. His love for the Balmoral estate is well known and being there recently brought him great comfort,” he said.
“They valued her there as a neighbor and friend, and there she got strength and refreshment during the summer months”, he added.
“She was active in Scottish civic life traveling across the country to support numerous causes, entertaining guests at Holyrood Palace and presiding over ceremonial events, many of which took place in this church,” Greenshields said, adding the moment the Queen received the Scottish crown in 1953.
“Her links with the Scottish churches were also deep and lasting. The Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she worshiped in the Church of Scotland when north of the border at Canongate Kirk and especially at Crathie Kirk, where he went to his pew every Sunday morning, and that he was only prevented from doing so lately by illness,” he added. .
Greenshields is the current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Towards the end of the service, the national anthem, God Save The King, was sung.