News
Prince William and Prince Harry announce plans for a Memorial Service for Diana, Princess of Wales
13th March 2007
The Memorial Service for Diana, Princess of Wales will be held at The Guards’ Chapel at Wellington Barracks in central London on Friday 31st August 2007.
Prince William and Prince Harry have chosen the venue because, as serving officers in the Household Division, it is their chapel.
The Service will be led by Padre Patrick Irwin, Chaplain to the Household Division, and the address will be given by the Dean of the Chapels Royal, Dr Richard Chartres.
The Service will be attended by the two Princes and other members of The Royal Family including Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, as well as Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes and Earl Spencer.
As well as friends of the late Princess, representatives from a wide range of her charities and other organisations will be invited.
The Memorial Service will be broadcast live on television by the BBC.
Notes for editors
Dr Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, will be attending in his capacity as the Dean of the Chapels Royal.
The Guards Chapel is the spiritual home of the Household Division and the first Chapel was opened in 1838.
On Sunday 18th June 1944 the Chapel was hit by a flying bomb during Morning Service, resulting in the death of 121 worshippers. Only the Apse and the font survived the destruction.
The new Chapel was designed by architect Bruce George, incorporating the original foundations, and was completed in 1963.
The Chapel seats around 500 people for a Memorial Service.