Commemoration service for Duke of Edinburgh on Sunday

The service will be led by the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, and will provide an opportunity for reflection on, and commemoration of, the life of the Duke following the news of his death last Friday just short of his 100th birthday.

The order of service is based on the Service of Commemoration published by The Queen’s Printer, Cambridge University Press, which will be used in many church and cathedral services of commemoration across the British Isles during the coming days.

The service will begin with a Royal Marine standard bearer carrying the Union Flag into the church.

The Town Church bells will ring half muffled before the service and the church flag will remain at half-mast until after the service.

Representatives from local organisations which have a link with the Duke will be represented during the service.

There will be a retiring collection for the Friends of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which raises funds for the benefit of groups or individual participants in the award scheme in Guernsey.

Anyone who would like to attend is asked to arrive by 3.45pm. Those attending should maintain good hand hygiene and maintain personal space.

Attendees will be asked to provide contact details, in line with guidance for large indoor events.

The taxi rank outside the Town Church will be relocated from 3.30pm, for the duration of the service.

Due to planned road works in Church Square, which are scheduled to start today, the only access into and out of the square on Sunday will be via Quay Street or the High Street.

The Duke’s body has been lying in state at Windsor Castle, where members of the Royal Family have been paying their respects in private.

A low-key funeral will be held in St George’s Chapel at 3pm tomorrow.

Guernsey Retail Group chairman Jonathan Creasey said he expected his customers and staff to be mindful of the minute’s silence, which will take place at the start of the funeral service.

. At 3pm tomorrow, the three blue light services will be holding a parade to mark the minute's silence and pay their respects to the Duke in the courtyard at the fire station.