The Queen Mother was remembered at Easter services at home and abroad today.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, asked the nation to pray for the Royal Family.

In his Easter Sunday sermon at Canterbury Cathedral, he said: ''We meet this morning amid deeply conflicting emotions. For Christians, Easter is a season of great joy, a time to celebrate the risen Christ and the triumph of life over death.

''But this Easter morn, we are all too well aware of loss and bereavement with the sad passing of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

''Of course I know I speak for us all in Canterbury Cathedral this morning in expressing our sadness at the loss of the Queen Mother.

''As the nation mourns, we give thanks to God for a life not only of great longevity but also of one lived to the full.

''Our thoughts and prayers this morning are with the entire Royal Family, but especially with the Queen, who has lost first a sister and now a much-loved parent in a matter of weeks.''

The Archbishop, who retires later this year, recalled the strength of the Queen Mother's Christian faith.

''There will be time in the coming days to pay full tribute to the Queen Mother and to celebrate all she meant to so many people over so many years.

''For now perhaps we may do best to call to mind the great depth and simplicity of her own Christian faith.

''It was a faith that helped to sustain her throughout her 101 years.''

He added: ''We have an eternal resting place with God our Father who calls us home - as he has called her home this Eastertide.''

At York Minster, the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, paid tribute to the Queen Mother's ''zest for life and love of people''. Dr Hope also led the prayers for the Queen Mother at the start of the Sung Eucharist. He said: ''We mourn her passing, truly the passing of an era and assure Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family of our deepest sympathy and our prayers for her at this time.

Worshippers at the cathedral also held a minute's silence in memory of the popular royal.

The National Anthem greeted worshippers at Manchester Cathedral today as tributes were paid to the Queen Mother.

A book of condolence, surrounded with lilies, was opened at the entrance of the cathedral allowing people to pay their respects.

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Christopher Mayfield, said: ''It was the hope and faith we celebrate at Easter that sustained Her Majesty the Queen Mother through high times and sad times.''

The Bishop said special prayers at the start and end of the service, which remained unaltered because ''being a Christian lady, the Queen Mother would have wanted the Easter service to continue''.

A book of condolence was also being opened at the town hall in Liverpool.

The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Dr Peter Forster, said the Queen Mother was a remarkable person with a great strength of character and sense of purpose''.

''She was an inspiration to others,'' he added.

British troops in Afghanistan held a service in memory of the Queen Mother.

Speaking on Sky News, Padre Rory MacLeod told troops gathered at Bagram Air Base that the Queen Mother would be remembered for helping to raise morale at crucial times in the country's history.

He said: ''In a constantly and ever-more changing world Elizabeth, the Queen Mother provided stability.

''As celebrities and high-profile personalities find it increasingly difficult to hold the respect of ordinary people Elizabeth, the Queen Mother retained her integrity and the affection of her people.

''Perhaps though, what we will most fondly remember her for is the fact that at crucial stages of our history the Queen Mother has helped raise the morale of the UK and her allies.

''We offer our prayers and condolences to the Royal Family and to all that knew and loved Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.''