The Duke of Cambridge made a surprise visit to the Hereford Cathedral yesterday (17.10.17).
Prince William
The 35-year-old royal stopped by a ceremony, which was attended by 600 people including members of the elite Special Air Service regiment, dedicated to a new sculpture and stained glass window at the place of worship in Herefordshire in the West Midlands.
The service was closed to the public and the cathedral was heavily guarded by security in order to make it safe for the prince to stop by and meet the SAS soldiers and veterans.
But William did meet around 200 well-wishers outside the building before he went in.
Afterwards, the Dean of Hereford, the Very Reverend Michael Tavinor, told the Express.co.uk: "We were pleased to welcome His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge to the cathedral this morning to join us as we dedicated this very special work of art.
"Ascension has been placed in this cathedral church because Hereford is the home of the Special Air Service, and the people of this city and county are proud of their association with it.
"In stone and glass, the artist John Maine RA has created an arresting and peaceful place for visitors and pilgrims alike, where thoughts and prayers for special forces can be offered, encouragement can be found, and hope can be inspired.
"In this act of dedication, we brought before God the story of a distinguished regiment, its past, its present and its future, and commended to our heavenly Father the people whose names and deeds we may not know, but whose involvement in the SAS has made a significant difference to international security and to the task of building a better society for generations to come. We hope that many more visitors will come to see Ascension for themselves over the forthcoming weeks and months and will enjoy spending time in our beautiful cathedral and discovering its treasures."
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