The children's writer Enid Blyton, best known for her Famous Five and Secret Seven adventure stories, wrote two prayers for The Queen's Coronation.
She sent them to Buckingham Palace, and in her accompanying letter explained that: "Her Majesty The Queen has asked us all to pray for her on that day, and has told us simply and sincerely, what to pray for. Now, the children want to pray for her too, and I have been pressed to write for them a special Children's Prayer for The Queen on Coronation day - a prayer that all children here & overseas may say."
She also included a prayer for younger children to say, so that they would not feel left out.
Blyton published these prayers in the Coronation edition of Enid Blyton's Magazine. The original manuscripts can be seen in Coronations, an exhibition in the Drawings Gallery at Windsor Castle.
The Children's Prayer
O loving Father,
Hear the children's prayer.
We too would pray today
As others do,
And kneel to ask a blessing on our Queen.
O God, stand by her side
This day and ever;
Be in her valiant heart and steadfast mind,
Her loving kindness and her shining faith;
Bless her with wisdom,
Give her strength and grace
So that her God and people she may serve
Through all her days, encircled by their love.
O heavenly Father,
Hear the children pray,
And bless Elizabeth, our Queen, today.
A Young Child's Prayer for The Queen
I am a child, dear Lord,
And on my knees I pray
A blessing for my Queen
On this her Day.
Help her in all she does,
Keep her steadfast and true,
Let her be good and wise,
Her whole life through.
And help me as I grow
To serve her as I should,
And be her loyal child,
Kind and good.
O loving Father, hear
As on my knees I pray
A blessing for my Queen
On this her Day.
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