Bermudians Attend Windsor Castle Service
Every four years, Her Majesty the Queen invites members of the Royal Victorian Order to attend a private service at the Royal Chapel in Windsor and then attend a champagne reception in the State Rooms inside Windsor Castle.
At the most recent of these private royal events four Bermudians, Alvin Daniels, Larry Burchall, Valerie Pethen and Marc Telemaque attended.
The RVO is a Royal Family order and awardees are made privately at the sole instigation of the Queen and not through the public system that applies for all other awards and honours. The awards are the personal choice of the Sovereign and are made for personal service to the Queen or the Royal Household.
This year’s service was well attended and the five hundred year-old Saint George’s Chapel was packed with over 1,000 people from all over the world. Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Barbadians, be-medalled Gurhkas, and of course Bermudians.
The Queen’s procession, which leads the Royal Family into the Chapel, and is made up of the highest ranking members of the Royal Victorian Order included, Dr Dame Minita Gordon GCMG, GCVO, JP. Walking with her was the Right Honourable Lord Wadddington GCVO, QC, DL who is an ex-Governor of Bermuda.
Valerie E Pethen, MVO, is pictured below:
Members of the Royal Family who attended the function included HM the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex, HRH the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, HRH the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
The Queen was not at the Chapel service, having withdrawn at the last minute because, as it was later reported, she had suffered a nosebleed. However she did attend the reception, and, as is the custom and along with all the other members of the Royal Family wandered about the rooms informally meeting and greeting many of those present.
During the reception, the four Bermudians re-connected with those members of the RVO who had strong Bermuda connections, in particular HRH the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester with their connections to the Bermuda Regiment and the Maritime Museum; and with ex-Governor Lord Waddington.
Hummmm a couple of old Soldiers hanging out with the big shots…..but where is Burch?
Burch is not an “RVO”……He’s aan “SUV”….you’ll get it………
DAme Valerie is a Queen. Who are those other 3 guys. Body guards or gang members (smile)
Bubba!!!! – daz all i am gonna say. Check d comments on the Governor and his Easter lily crew.
Ms. Val look fabulous, hope you are back in time for our Royal Wedding Bermuda Celebration Fundraiser for Project Action. I know Marc sent his regrets but it would be great to have Alvin and Larry attend.
@ Bubba. Body Guards or gang members? You obviously don’t know your Bermuda history. Major Daniels was the first Bermudian black Aide-de-Camp for Bermuda when Sir Richard Sharples and his ADC Capt. Hugh Sayers were murdered on the grounds of Governmnet House. He set the precendent as being the first Bermudian to be ADC as well as he was Queen Elizabeth’s person Equerry -ADC when she visited in Bermuda in 1976 I beleive. So do some research on your fellow Bermudians who have represented Bermuda well and contines to do so. Yes I am a remotely related to him.