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The Queen shares message ahead of wedding anniversary: “No one can slow the passage of time”

Photo credit: Tim Graham - Getty Images
Photo credit: Tim Graham - Getty Images

The Queen has shared a heartfelt message to Church of England leaders ahead of her first wedding anniversary without Prince Philip, who died earlier this year.

The royal has been forced to miss various events recently, as she’s currently in bed recovering from a back injury, but shared an important message ahead of the annual meeting of the General Synod, the legislative arm of the C of E.

“It’s hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod,” she said in a speech delivered by her son, Prince Edward, reports the BBC. The Queen is the supreme governor of the church and, since it first launched in 1970, she’s attended every opening session of each elected Synod - this being the first year that she's missed.

She continued: "None of us can slow the passage of time, and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings.

"Of course, in our richly diverse modern society, the wellbeing of the nation depends on the contribution of people of all faiths, and of none."

The royal went on to say that religion has helped many during the difficult days of the pandemic, describing it as "a time of anxiety, grief and weariness".

"For people of faith, the last few years have been particularly hard, with unprecedented restrictions in accessing the comfort and reassurance of public worship," she said.

Photo credit: Antony Jones - Getty Images
Photo credit: Antony Jones - Getty Images

"Yet the Gospel has brought hope, as it has done throughout the ages; and the church has adapted and continued its ministry, often in new ways, such as digital forms of worship."

Her speech comes days ahead of her first wedding anniversary without her husband Prince Philip, who died in April. The couple would have been celebrating their 74th year of marriage on 20 November.

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