The annual memorial service for deceased members of the Grand Ducal Family took place at 2pm this afternoon at the Church of St John and the Grand Ducal Crypt on the Castle Island in Mirow. The service which first took place in 1996 is held each year on the penultimate Saturday of August. The memorial service was lead by Pastor Bernhard Szymanski from Neustrelitz. In attendance was the Lutheran church priest, the mayor of Mirow and the head of the Mirow Castle Island welcome centre. Due to the christening of Helena von Reitzenstein, granddaughter of Her Highness Duchess Marie Katharina, no member of the Grand Ducal Family was in attendance.
This years service is dedicated to the late Head of the Grand Ducal House, His Highness Duke Georg Alexander who was born ninety years ago this year on 27 August 1921. Having died on the Castle Island in 1996, the late Duke is also the last member of the Grand Ducal Family to have been buried in the Grand Ducal Crypt in Mirow.