A REQUIEM mass will be held for the Late Head of State Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday 14th September 2022.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in this nationwide address on Friday said the requiem mass will be held at St Barnabas Cathedral at 10am on Wednesday 14th September 2022.
Members of the public are invited to attend this memorial service.
Mr Sogavare was announcing events which are being planned by the national government to honour the service of our Late Queen, the Head of State of Solomon Islands.
He said the country will observe three days of mourning from Monday 12th September to Wednesday 14th September 2022.
He said Monday 12th September will be observed as public holiday while Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th September 2022 will be normal working days.
“I ask all citizens, residents of Solomon Islands not to undertake major events during this period of mourning,” Mr Sogavare said.
He said the Government House will be open for the laying of wreaths and the signing of the Book of Condolences between 8.30am and 12pm on Monday 12th September 2022.
“Further details on the sequencing on the laying of the wreaths will be developed and advised,” Mr Sogavare said.
Mr Sogavare said the late Head of State of Solomon Islands Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the longest serving monarch in the Commonwealth since becoming Queen in February 1952 and until her passing on Thursday 8th September 2022 – a period of 70 years.
“I call on all citizens to remember and pay homage to our late Queen, the Head of State of Solomon Islands.
“I invite you all to pray for the Royal Family at this very difficult time and ask for God’s grace and comfort to be with the members of the Royal Family as they come to terms with this major loss.
“Let us pray for the leaders and people of all Commonwealth countries who today are united in grief and sadness yet held together with the knowledge that our Head of State had served her country, her realm and people in the realm for 70 years,” the Prime Minister said.
“Let us celebrate in confidence that our Late Queen is resting in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in joyful rest after more than half a century of service to her people.
“Let us pray for King Charles III as he takes on the role as the King and the Head of State of Solomon Islands and all Commonwealth countries. May God bless him richly and shower him knowledge and wisdom as he now leads the people of the Commonwealth and let us go forth with fond memories of the work our late Head of State Queen Elizabeth II has done for our people, the head of the realm of the Commonwealth countries.
“May God accept his servant the late Head of State Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II into his Eternal Kingdom and may her soul rest with everlasting peace in his Almighty Hands.”
Meanwhile, all flags in the country will be flown at half-mast until after the burial of Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II.
