Buckingham Palace press releases
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SIR EDMUND HILLARY
18 January 2008THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN
The Queen has asked that the Governor-General of New Zealand, The Honourable Anand Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO, represent Her Majesty in both a personal and official capacity at the State Funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary on Tuesday, the 22nd January, 2008.
A personal wreath from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will also be laid at the Lying-in-State prior to the Service at St. Mary's Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland.
In addition, Her Majesty has offered the Hillary family a Memorial Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in April. The date is yet to be confirmed. As Sir Edmund was a Knight of the Garter, the Memorial Service will include the "laying up" of Sir Edmund's banner in St George's Chapel. The family will also be invited to attend an audience with The Queen following the Service.
Background Notes:
The Queen sent a personal message to the family following the announcement of the death of Sir Edmund on the 11th January, 2008.
The Queen's association with Sir Edmund Hillary stretches back to the announcement of his ascent of Mount Everest on the eve of The Queen's coronation, June 2, 1953. He was knighted by The Queen for this achievement the same year.
The Queen met Sir Edmund on a number of occasions, the last in New Zealand during the 2002 Golden Jubilee tour and in the UK in 2004 at the Garter ceremony in Windsor.
