[4] In 1997, he moved to Westminster Abbey,[5] where later that year he officiated at the funeral service of Diana, Princess of Wales.
The matter was contested and referred to Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle for determination at the behest of Queen Elizabeth II.
The finding further criticised the dean and chapter for the manner in which Neary was dismissed, stating that their actions "must score gamma minus on the scale of natural justice" and concluding with the observation that, "had the parties been prepared to discuss openly and frankly the Abbey's concerns, to acknowledge that serious mistakes had been made and to consider the reasons therefor, it might perhaps have been possible to avoid the present unhappy situation with all its attendant publicity and to have reached a rather less dramatic resolution of their differences.
"[6] The controversy led to the resignation of ex-Speaker of the Commons Bernard Weatherill as High Bailiff and Searcher of the Sanctuary of the Abbey, in protest at the manner in which Carr and the Chapter dealt with Neary's termination.
On his retirement as Dean of Westminster in 2006 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) on 17 February.