THE Royal Family turned out in force yesterday to fill the front pews of St Paul's Cathedral at a thanksgiving service for their matriarch Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. 

More than 2,000 family, friends, foreign royalty, staff, politicians and representatives of charities and patronages filled the cathedral for the nation's official celebration of the Queen Mother's 100th birthday, which falls on August 4. 

Prince William, making his first public appearance since leaving Eton last month, joined almost his entire family, with only Zara Phillips, Marina Ogilvy and Lord Nicholas Windsor absent abroad. The Royal Family are rarely seen together in such numbers; the last time so many gathered was for the Queen's golden wedding celebration at Westminster Abbey in 1997. 

Yesterday they were joined by the crowned heads of Luxembourg, Norway and Belgium, along with the former kings Michael of Romania and Constantine of Greece. 

Flanked by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in front of the altar under the St Paul's dome, the Queen Mother cut a tiny but brilliant figure in peach as she listened to Dr George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, praise the virtues of old age. 

Dr Carey sent a rousing laugh through the cathedral when he thanked the Queen Mother for the loan of a wine glass, a reference to a Guildhall lunch two weeks ago when he accidentally picked up the guest of honour's drink, leaving her empty-handed as she tried to propose a toast. 

After the service the Queen Mother was driven to a private lunch with Princess Margaret while the Queen entertained foreign royalty to lunch at Buckingham Palace. 

A SERVICE OF CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING IN HONOUR OF THE 100th BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER 
St Paul's Cathedral, Tuesday 11th July 2000 at 11.30am 

The Choristers sing 
THE INTROIT For the beauty of the earth 

THE DEAN gives THE BIDDING 

We come to this Cathedral Church today to rejoice with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as we give thanks to God together for her long life. 

We remember with great gratitude all that she has meant and continues to mean to so many people. We recall her long years of public service in peace and in war; her love of life; her delight in people; her steadfastness; her humour. We ask that God will continue to sustain her, and to enlarge and enrich our common life. 

We pray also for all the peoples of this nation and Commonwealth; for peace, and righteousness, and prosperity; that we may seek at all times the things that are true, the things that endure. And so, in the quiet confidence of faith, we pray: 

The Lord's Prayer 

HYMN: Love Divine, all loves excelling 

THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 32. 1-3, 16-18 read by THE REV ANTHONY BURNHAM, Moderator of the Free Churches Council 

PSALM 121 
I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills: from whence cometh my help. 

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Philippians 4. 4-8 read by 

THE MOST REV CORMAC MURPHY-O'CONNOR Archbishop of Westminster 

ANTHEM 
Let all the world in every corner sing 

THE LITANY OF THANKSGIVING 
led by THE RIGHT REV ANDREW R C MCLENNAN, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 

AS we call to mind the life of our nation and Commonwealth, so may we give thanks to God in faith and trust. 
FOR the gift of Christ Jesus and for all whose devotion to him has sustained the life of our Church and nation. 

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 
FOR our Sovereign Lady The Queen, and all the Royal Family; for Parliament and all who bear the privilege and burden of government. 
Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 

FOR Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother; for all that she has done to enrich the lives of so many; remembering also with gratitude His late Majesty King George The Sixth. 

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 

FOR all people touched by The Queen Mother's devotion to public service and love of life, in times of hardship, prosperity, and in times to come. 

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 

FOR all those who, with Her Majesty, celebrate one hundred years this year, in thanksgiving for wisdom, discernment and courage gained and given over long lives. 

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 

FOR our own lives, always giving thanks for those who have gone before, and asking that we might go forward with confidence and hope. 

Let us bless the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 

O GOD, in whom we live and move and have our being, grant that your goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, that we may ever trust in your unfailing love. Through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen. 

HYMN: LEAD us, heavenly Father, lead us 

THE ADDRESS given by THE MOST REV AND RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE CAREY, Archbishop of Canterbury 

HYMN: NOW thank we all our God 

THE BISHOP OF LONDON, the Dean of the Chapels Royal, says 

FATHER of all, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, bless your servant, Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and pour upon her the riches of your grace; prosper all her days and endue her with happiness, health and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

ANTHEM 

THE Lord bless you and keep you 
THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY gives THE BLESSING 

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM 

The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen Mother, The Queen 

FRONT ROW, LEFT FRONT ROW, RIGHT 
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, The Prince of Wales, 
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Prince William of Wales, 
The King of Norway, Prince Harry of Wales, 
The Queen of Norway, The Duke of York, 
The King of The Belgians, Princess Beatrice of York, 
The Queen of The Belgians, Princess Eugenie of York, 
King Michael of Romania, The Earl of Wessex, 
Queen Anne of Romania, The Countess of Wessex, 
The King of The Hellenes, The Princess Royal, 
The Queen of The Hellenes, Mr Peter Phillips, 
Prince Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-parma, The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, 1 
The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Viscount Linley, 
The Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Viscountess Linley, 
Lord Glamis, The Lady Sarah Chatto, 
The Hon. John Bowes-Lyon, Mr Daniel Chatto, 
The Hon. George Bowes-Lyon, The Duke of Gloucester, 
The Dowager Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, The Duchess of Gloucester, 
The Lady Diana Godfrey-Fausset, Earl of Ulster, 
Mr Christopher Godfrey-Fausset, The Lady Davina Windsor, 
The Lady Rose Windsor 

SECOND ROW, LEFT SECOND ROW, RIGHT 
Luxembourg Suite, The Duke of Kent, 
Luxembourg Suite, The Duchess of Kent, 
Norwegian Suite, Earl of St Andrews, 
Norwegian Suite, Countess of St Andrews, 
Belgian Suite, Lord Down-Patrick, 
Belgian Suite, The Lady Helen Taylor, 
Romanian Suite Mr Timothy Taylor, 
Prince Michael of Kent, 
Princess Michael of Kent, 
The Lord Frederick Windsor, 
The Lady Gabriella Windsor, 
Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy, 
The Rt. Hon. Sir Angus Ogilvy, 
Mr James Ogilvy, 
Mrs James Ogilvy, 
The Lady Saltoun, 
The Earl of Snowdon, 
The Countess of Snowdon, 
The Lord Brabourne, 
The Countess Mountbatten of Burma