St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, which Queen Elizabeth II first visited in 1954, will tonight host a Solemn Choral Evensong, open to all Melburnians.

The service, to celebrate the life of the Queen and mourn her death at age 96, is expected to include psalms and hymns along with prayers of thanksgiving and is listed to run from 6pm to 7pm.

The Queen first visited the cathedral during her visit to Australia in 1954 and was described by the church as a “regular worshipper” during subsequent visits to the city.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced September 22 would be a once-off public holiday around Australia for a national day of mourning for the Queen.

Victorian parliament was due to meet for the final time this week. But the sitting week was pushed to September 20-22 after the Queen’s death.

Sittings will still occur on September 20 and 21, when question time will be held and more than a dozen retiring MPs will give their valedictory speeches.

The sitting on the 22nd, the day of the public holiday, has been cancelled.

On Monday, Victoria’s Governor Linda Dessau will hold a Ceremony for the Proclamation of King Charles III at 11am where the Lieutenant-Governor, Chief Justice and other senior office holders will re-swear their oaths to the new King.

Victoria’s constitution differs from states like New South Wales in that its ceremony is not a public event. However, it will be available to watch via a live stream on the governor’s website.

This Tuesday, MPs will convene in Parliament to be sworn in under a new sovereign, King Charles III.

Condolences will be given by leaders and MPs will leave without engaging in regular political debate.

More to come

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