On Thursday morning, the King and Queen Consort attended the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster. The service was the first of the new reign following the death ofQueen Elizabethin September. Held on the Thursday before Easter each year, Queen Elizabeth would distribute special coins known as “Maundy money” to recognize those over age 70 for outstanding Christian service to their communities.
In a nod to his age, King Charles presented 74 men and 74 women with Maundy money to thank them for their community contributions. The recipients are selected from various Church of England dioceses across the country, plus Anglican and Ecumenical partners across the U.K.
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort pose after the Royal Maundy service.Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort pose after the Royal Maundy service.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
According to theRoyal Family, the first recorded royal distribution dates back to King John in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire in the year 1210. Royal Maundy continues today as one of the Church of England’s most ancient ceremonies.
The Royal Maundy Service came to a close with the national anthem and a blessing from the Dean of York. King Charles and Queen Camilla posed for a photo with the Royal Maundy party and moved to a private reception at York Minster Refectory.
The outing also came on an exciting day: exactly one month before King Charles and Queen Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey at the May 6 coronation.
Though this year’s Royal Maundy Service marked Charles and Camilla’s first as King and Queen Consort, theyfilled inforQueen Elizabethlast year at the same event. There, then-Prince Charlesdid the honors of distributing the Maundy money. It was his first time filling in forQueen Elizabethat the event and Camilla’s first time attending. Charles previously attended the event in 1962 to mark 10th anniversary ofQueen Elizabeth’s accession and again in 1968.
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ThoughQueen Elizabethcontinued to undertake light duties andhold virtual audiencesfrom Windsor Castle last year, her public outings became increasingly rare amid a number ofhealth setbacks.
She attended her last Royal Maundy Service in 2019 at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle with granddaughterPrincess Eugenie, distributing 93 coins for her 93 years.
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Eugenie in 2019.Samir Hussein/WireImage
The Queen first attended Royal Maundy as Princess Elizabeth in 1935. Early in her reign, she decided that Maundy money should not just be distributed to the people of London, and started a new tradition of traveling to various cathedrals or abbeys to share the celebration.
source: people.com
