Service for Everest hero Hillary

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The Queen has paid her respects at a service of thanksgiving for Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary.

Members of the mountaineer's family and dignitaries from his native New Zealand also attended the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Sir Edmund scaled Everest in May 1953 with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, whose son was among the 500-strong congregation.

Sir Edmund, who died in January at 88, had a state funeral in New Zealand and his ashes spread in Auckland Harbour.

'Special day'

His son Peter told the service it was a "wonderful coincidence" that news of his father's feat reached London on the day of the Queen's coronation.

He said: "For my father, his association with the royal family was something that gave him great pleasure and honour. He was very grateful for that friendship."

The Queen made Sir Edmund a Knight of the Garter in 1995.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark thanked the Queen for a "special day of remembrance", and said the Queen and Sir Edmund "shared a history".