Banquet at Lambeth Palace

The Queen, Head of the Church of England, led the Royal Family at the Service to rededicate the Chapel at Lambeth Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on this day in 1955, 70 years ago!

The Queen, Head of the Church of England, presided over the Service to rededicate the Chapel at Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Chapel was heavily damaged following a direct hit by a German incendiary bomb during World War II. The hit destroyed the ceiling and all of the windows were broken. Scorch marks can still be seen on the marble tiled floor today.

Restoration work was carried out by architects Lord Mottistone and Mr Paul Paget. Modern glass was inserted into the remaining window frames by Carl Edwards and Hugh Powell, who attempted to recreate the same themes and designs as the original windows designed by Morton in 1486.

The Chapel, which was badly damaged during WWII, was rededicated on 19 October 1955 in a service attended by The Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara and Greville Ruby Necklace)

The Queen Mother (wearing the Oriental Circlet Tiara and Crown Ruby Parure) and Princess Margaret (in the Cartier Halo Tiara)

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara

Necklaces

Coronation Necklace and Earrings

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace

Queen’s Three-Strand Pearl Necklace

King George VI Festoon Necklace

Queen’s South African Diamonds

Queen’s City of London Fringe Necklace

Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Choker

Queen’s Jordanian Turquoise Suite

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

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