In the aftermath of the death of Sir Edmund Hillary at the age of 88, the Queen has offered to honour the explorer by holding a special memorial service for his family at Windsor Castle.

Sir Edmund Hillary being honoured by Nepal

New Zealander Sir Edmund was the first man to conquer Mount Everest as part of the British 1953 expedition team. The news of the triumph came through just before the Queen’s Coronation and added considerable sparkle to the beginning of the new Elizabethan Age.

Mount Everest — world’s highest peak

His recent passing has “deeply saddened” the Queen who sent a personal message of condolences from herself and the Duke of Edinburgh to the Hillary family.

The service is expected to be held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on a date to be fixed in April.

Hillary started out as a bee farmer before becoming one of the world’s most famous explorers. He was made a Knight of the Garter, which means the Windsor ceremony will include the “laying up” of his banner in the chapel. His family will meet the Queen personally after the service.

Sir Edmund has been granted the rare honour in his native New Zealand of a State funeral, where the Queen will be represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand.

The service will be held in Auckland next Tuesday and the Queen and the Duke will send a personal wreath to be laid at the lying-in-state before the funeral.