Chilean Navy and Chilean Embassy in the United Kingdom pay tribute to Lord Cochrane at Westminster Abbey.
On 21st May, the Embassy of Chile held a solemn ceremony at the iconic Westminster Abbey, marking the anniversary of Chilean Navy Day.
The ceremony was presided by the Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Ximena Fuentes, and attended by the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Paul Dimoldenburg; representatives of the diplomatic corps; members of the Royal Navy and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as well as accredited Defence and Naval Attachés in the United Kingdom.
During the religious service, Commodore Tobias White, representing the Royal Navy, and later Ambassador Fuentes, laid wreaths at the tomb of Vice Admiral Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane, paying homage to this distinguished seaman who set foot on Chile’s shores in 1818, and played a pivotal role in securing the nation’s independence by contributing to the establishment of the Chilean Navy.
The ceremony was conducted by the Dean of Westminster Abbey, Right Reverend Anthony Ball, who invited the congregation to reflect upon Lord Cochrane’s courage, leadership and legacy, values which continue to inspire the Chilean Navy more than two centuries later. The occasion reaffirmed the enduring ties of cooperation and mutual respect between the navies of Chile and the United Kingdom.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the offices of the International Maritime Organisation, wherein the Defence Attaché of Chile to the United Kingdom, Commander Sven Barckhahn, and Ambassador Fuentes, delivered speeches highlighting Chile’s tight-knit relationship with the sea. The reception also marked the official launch of Chile’s candidacy for re-election to the IMO Council, category “C”, for the 2026-2027 term.
