Buckingham Palace press releases

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SERVIVE OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIFE OF SIR EDMUND HILLARY KG

15 February 2008

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will attend a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Sir Edmund Hillary KG at St George's Chapel, Windsor, at 11am on Wednesday 2nd April.
 
As Sir Edmund was a Knight of the Garter, The Service will include the "laying up" of Sir Edmund's banner in St George's chapel.
 
His family will also be invited to attend a private audience with The Queen following the Service.
 
There will be an opportunity for members of the public to enter a ballot for tickets to either attend the service (a limited amount) or to gather outside the Chapel in the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle and hear the service broadcast. Further details of what this entails and
how to apply will be outlined on the New Zealand High Commission website (opens in new window) later this month.
 
Further information
The Queen sent a personal message to the family following the announcement of the death of Sir Edmund on 11 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.