‘We WILL meet again’

Queen’s faith – and Covid promise – hailed by Justin Welby

When Covid struck, the Queen assured the worried nation: ‘We will meet again.’

And her strong faith meant she died believing those words would also come true after her earthly life ended, the Archbishop of Canterbury said in yesterday’s funeral sermon.

The Most Revd Justin Welby paid tribute to the Queen’s life of service and told the congregation of leaders from around the world: ‘People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are forgotten.’

Queen elizabeth was heavily involved in planning her funeral and the ‘sermon’ by the Archbishop replaced a more personal

‘Service in life, hope in death’

‘eulogy’ conducted by a family member or close friend common in many services.

The Archbishop also referred to the Queen’s 21st birthday broadcast in which she pledged that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth.

‘Rarely has such a promise been so well kept,’ he said.

‘Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen.’

Commenting on the Queen’s Christian faith, he said her ‘example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through who she followed’.

In reference to King Charles III, he added: ‘I know his Majesty shares the same faith and hope in Jesus Christ as his mother; the same sense of service and duty.’

Speaking to leaders, dignitaries and VIPs from around the world, the Archbishop said: ‘The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.

‘ She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.’

The Archbishop also noted that the Royal Family was grieving like ‘every family at a funeral – including so many families round the world who have themselves lost

someone recently – but in this family’s case doing so in the brightest spotlight’.

And he spoke about the Queen’s broadcast to the nation at the

start of the pandemic which ended with the words from the Vera Lynn song: ‘We will meet again.’

The Archbishop said: ‘Christian hope means certain expectation

of something not yet seen.’ he added: ‘We will all face the merciful judgment of God: We can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant

leadership. Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: “We will meet again”.’