Royal Maundy Service explained as Queen misses it for first time in 52 years
Her Majesty the Queen has pulled out of her traditional Easter Sunday service just days before it’s due to take place.
Instead, the rest of the Royal Family will attend the annual gathering at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor without the Queen.
The sudden news comes after the palace announced that Prince Charles and Camilla would step in for today’s Maundy Service.
It’s the first time since 1970 that a member of the Royal Family (the Queen Mother at that time, as the Queen was in New Zealand) has stood in for the monarch.
The tradition takes place on the Thursday before Easter Sunday each year, complete with some very strange practises!
From odour-busting bouquets to purses full of ‘Maundy money’, here’s what really happens during the Maundy Service.
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images Her Majesty has regretfully pulled out for the first time in 52 years
Ancient history
According to the Royal Mint Museum, the Maundy Service has been a royal custom for centuries and could date back as early as the 1200s.
The tradition sees members of the royal family distribute money and gifts, and mark Jesus Christ’s ‘simple act of humility’ by washing the feet of the poor.
While it’s pretty unlikely that our present royals do any foot washing during the service, gifts are still a big part of the ceremony.
UK Press via Getty Images The service dates back centuries
Thursday, the Queen distributes special Maundy money to pensioners in a service which commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper.”
That explains the lack of foot washing, then.
Each year, the monarch hands out the Maundy coins to a specific number of men and women depending on her current age.
These people are nominated by their local dioceses for contributions to their local church and community.
Getty Images Charles and Camilla stepped in to represent the Queen
So, at this service, Charles will give them to 96 men and 96 women - as the Queen will turn 96 just a few days later on April 21.
Each recipient is given two little purses - one red and one white.
In the white purse, they’ll find uniquely minted Maundy money (silver 10p and 3p pieces) adding up to 96p.
And in the red pouch, there’s a £5 coin and a 50p coin marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
What an exciting gift!
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images Her Majesty rarely misses the Easter tradition
Nosegay bouquets
We can’t forget the nosegays.
Keeping to tradition, the Queen - or rather Prince Charles and Camilla, this year - is offered nosegays.
They’re sweet-smelling bouquets of flowers which, in years past, were used to overpower any unpleasant odours during the ceremony.
Postal service
Our monarch (and her people) missed out on the Maundy Service for two years due to the Covid pandemic.
But would-be attendees didn’t miss out. She sent the Maundy money by post along with a letter to each recipient thanking them for their community work (which earned them the nomination to be given the coins).
Reference: OK: Kirsten Jones
Articles-Latest
- Using Vibrational Aromatherapy In Treatment
- The BI-Gendered God-She-male Gods & The Roots of Christianity
- Geometry and Myth-She-Male Gods & the Roots of Christianity
- Muslim Council Demands Investigation Into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party
- What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Well, for starters, Jesus wasn’t a homophobe
- King Charles attends Easter service, providing a glimpse of the monarch after cancer diagnosis
- We must stand up to religious extremism in the UK before it tears us apart,’ writes Frederick Chedam
- Trump compares himself to Jesus Christ – again
- Pope makes last-minute decision not to deliver Palm Sunday Mass homily
- New York City's mayor gets baptized in jail by Rev. Al Sharpton on Good Friday
- Pope Francis calls predecessor Benedict a key transitional figure
- Lawyers hit out at Vatican’s ‘trial of the century’ after Pope secretly changes law four times
- What we know about the killing of Detroit synagogue leader Samatha Woll
- Sodomy and theology: the feverish birth of the King James Bible
- Africa's Catholic hierarchy refuses same-sex blessings, says such unions are contrary to God's will
- After decades of struggle for a place in Israel, dozens of Black Hebrews face threat of deportation
- Purgatory in the Bible
- Pope’s new ruling on blessings for same-sex couples does not change Catholic teaching - bishop
- Sacred Mysteries: The starwright who bursts forth like the sun
- The Vatican's 'trial of the century,' a Pandora's box of unintended revelations, explained
Articles-Most Read
- Home
- Let There Be Light
- Plants that feel and Speak
- The Singing Forest
- The Singing Forest-2
- Introduction
- Meditation
- Using Essential Oils for Spiritual Connection
- Heaven Scent
- Plants that Feel and Speak-2
- Purification
- Making the Spiritual Connection
- Anointing
- The Sanctity of Plants
- Essential Oils: The unseen Energies
- The Aroma Of Worship - Introduction
- The Aroma Of Worship-Foreward
- Methods Of Use
- Spiritual Blending
- Handling and Storage