Bells rung out as several thousand line the steps and Prime Minister Tony Abbott -who would usually attend a Catholic service on Easter Sunday – and his wife Margie, dressed in a chic cream wrap dress arrived to a few cheers from the crowd.
There were much louder screams as the Duke and Duchess arrived, but generally the mood was respectful of this serious religious occasion.
Dressed in a dove grey Alexander McQueen coat with Jane Taylor Hat. The couple was met by The Most Reverend Dr Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney and The Very Reverend Phillip Jensen, Dean of Sydney.
The service started shortly after 10.30am and was closed to the throng of media who had gathered outside but loud speakers played the service live to the audience in Town Square.
The cathedral is the “seat” of the Archbishop of Sydney and where the Bishops and the Archbishop are consecrated. When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last came to Sydney (2006) they held a very special service in her honour to commemorate Commonwealth Day. Many people have seen other special occasions at the Cathedral on television, such as State Funerals.
St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a close association with the Cathedral, since it was first established as a school for the Cathedral choir who are singing today.
Earlier this morning I caught up with St Andrew’s schoolboy 14-year-old Liam Scott who was dashing through the streets trying to find the right entrance for this morning’s very special service. Slung over his shoulder he had the purple robe and white smock he would be wearing as one of the choristers singing. “I sing bass,” he told me. “We’re going to be singing the Hallelujah chorus from The Messiah and Trinity Te Deum. We’ve been practising for a month. I’m really excited.”
Also on a high were Lauren Kirkby, 24 and Chelsea Vargas, 25, who scored a front row position for the Duke and Duchess’s walk past.”We’ve been here since 6.30am , we love them,” they told The Weekly. Why are Will and Kate so special? “They’re normal people in a fairy tale world,” said Lauren.
After the service the couple will become the latest members of the royal family to sign the historic First Fleet Bible and Prayer Book. The Bible and Book of Common Prayer was used in the first Christian service held in Australia by the Chaplain of the First Fleet, Reverend Richard Johnson in 1788 on the site of St Philip’s Anglican church in Sydney.
The order of service booklet from this morning’s royal Easter mass.
The book has since been signed by many members of the Royal Family including HRH Prince Edward in 1920, HRH Prince Albert in 1927, HRH Prince Henry in 1934, Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1954, HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1958, HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent in 1959, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Princess of Wales in 1983, HRH The Duke of York and HRH The Duchess of York in 1988.
Next stop today is Taronga zoo where record crowds are expected to catch a glimpse of the couple on their last public event in Sydney. And hope are high for an appearance by Prince George.
