Francis Holland Schools have long held a special connection to the Royal Family, as our founder Canon Francis Holland was appointed Chaplain to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s sense of service, duty and integrity is therefore embedded in the Schools’ core values, and our entire FHS community is deeply saddened to hear of this news.

On Friday 9th September, we joined together in mourning. Mrs Elphinstone and Mrs Dixon both led poignant assemblies to the Senior School and Junior School reflecting on Her Majesty’s immeasurable dedication to her country and the Commonwealth, pledging herself to a life of public service aged just 25. Her Majesty’s 21st Birthday Speech was played to the Senior girls, and we were all yet again reminded just how momentous her 70-year reign has been. The Senior assembly concluded with heartfelt renditions of the national anthem and I Vow to Thee My Country.

Thank you to Mr Russell who penned this beautiful tribute to Her Majesty upon hearing the news:

Elegy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Two rainbows appear over London
– Love’s debt, in grief repaid.
And let none forget,
In this towering absence,
In this gathering of lost moments,
In this edifying silence,
A life may be ended
  But never unmade.

Jim Russell
Thursday 8th September 2022

For now, we join the country and our FHS community in mourning the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. May she rest in peace.