Prime Minister to attend reflection on the death of the Queen at St Paul’s

The Prime Minister will attend a service of prayer and reflection on the death of the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.

Members of the royal family are not expected to attend the 6pm service which will be open to the public and broadcast live by the BBC.

Audio of the King’s televised address to the nation will be played inside the cathedral if it coincides with the service.

The cathedral said a total of 2,000 seats will be allocated to the public on a first-come-first-served basis.

A spokeswoman for the cathedral said Liz Truss, who will deliver a reading at the service, is expected to be joined by Lord Mayor Vincent Keaveny.

Those wishing to attend must visit in person to the City of London tourism office on Carter Lane to collect a wristband from 11am.

It is just over three months since the cathedral was the setting for a service of thanksgiving – attended by the royal family – during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The monarch pulled out of attending the service due to the physical demands involved.

At Friday evening’s service, Andrew Tremlett, Dean Designate of St Paul’s Cathedral, will deliver the bidding.

Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, as Dean of the Chapels Royal, will deliver the address, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will deliver the blessing.

Martin Ford, acting sub-organist, will play before the service, while Will Fox, acting organist and assistant director of music, will play during the service.

St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, conducted by Andrew Carwood, will sing.

Music will include Behold O God Our Defender, Bring Us, O Lord God, At Our Last Awakening, and Nunc Dimittis from Evening Service in G.

Hymns will include All My Hope On God Is founded, O Thou Who Camest from above, and The Lord’s My Shepherd.

The cathedral said a half-muffled single bell will toll as the start of the service, while a half-muffled peal will be sounded at the end of the service.