King Charles has attended a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral to recognise outstanding service by those working overseas, marking his first Service of Dedication and Commemoration for the Order of St Michael and St George as monarch.
The order, which recognises service in a foreign country or in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs, is an order of chivalry with honours granted by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister each year. Upon arrival, a fanfare by state trumpeters played on the west steps of the building, and the King was greeted by the Right Honourable Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley.
Draped in a blue cloak, Charles was welcomed inside by the Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the Order. During the hour-long service, he walked through the cathedral accompanied by a choir, His Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, and the Lady Mayor bearing the Pearl Sword. At the altar in the dome, he said: “Let us remember before God, members of the Order lately departed.”
A list of members who had died since the last ceremony was read by Sir Jonathan Taylor, Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod, including British diplomat Sir Crispin Tickell, who died aged 91 in 2022, and former British ambassador to Germany Christopher Mallaby, who died aged 85 in 2022. Towards the end of the service, a fanfare sounded and the congregation sang the national anthem before the procession moved back through the cathedral, with Charles departing at about midday.
The Order of St Michael and St George was founded in 1818 by the Prince Regent, later King George IV, to commemorate the Ionian Islands being placed under British protection and Malta under British sovereignty. Its original purpose was to recognise and reward the services of citizens in Malta and the Ionian Islands. The Service of Dedication and Commemoration is typically held at St Paul’s Cathedral every four years.
