Hundreds of people gathered in Wellington this afternoon to observe Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day and the state memorial service at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor died 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, at the age of 96.
Attendees at the state memorial service included Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former governors-general and prime ministers, MPs, mayors, iwi representatives and Order of New Zealand recipients.
The Prime Minister and Governor-General led the dignitaries at the service. (Source: 1News)
Across the road at Parliament, the flag was lowered to half-mast.
A national minute of silence was held at 2pm to pause and acknowledge the passing of the Queen and her 70 years of service.
Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro delivered an address, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the head girl of St Mary's College gave readings. The cathedral's acting dean Reverend Katie Lawrence led the service.
Several of the Queen's favourite hymns were sung, including Psalm 23, before the congregation sang God Save the King.
One of New Zealand’s top bagpipers, Murray Mansfield QSM, brought the service to a close as the Queen's Personal Flag, followed by the Queen's Colours, were slowly marched out of the Cathedral.
The service came a week after the Queen's state funeral in London which today marks the end of its official mourning period.
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