Queen Camilla
Historical! Goosebumps moment during Easter service
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Queen Camilla represented King Charles, who was suffering from cancer, on Maundy Thursday and distributed the traditional “Maundy” coins. A historic act.
Queen Camilla is the first Queen Consort to distribute the “Maundy” coins for the first time
It is the first time that a royal consort presented the so-called “Maundy” coins to 75 men and 75 women in recognition of their services to the local community.
For the occasion, Queen Camilla wore a white wool coat with flower brooches on the lapel, a camel-colored fur hat, black gloves and beige boots. She was greeted outside the church by the Bishop of Worcester, but also by loud protests from an anti-monarchy group.
The traditional service on the Thursday before Easter is one of the most important dates in the royal calendar. Queen Elizabeth, †96, only missed it once in the last 50 years of her reign – a few months before her death. At that time she had Charles and Camilla represent her.
The “Maundy” coins Queen Camilla was the first to present the Queen Consort.
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Charles joined the service via voice message
Meanwhile, King Charles used modern technology to be part of the service despite his illness. The monarch had previously recorded a speech that was played during the mass. In it, he emphasized the importance of “serving and caring for each other” and how sad he was not able to be present. The monarch recorded the speech at Buckingham Palace in mid-March. To mark the occasion, the royal family published a new photo of Charles.
Special tradition on Maundy Thursday
It has been a tradition since the 17th century for the British monarch to distribute specially minted silver coins to people who have rendered service to the community as part of the “Royal Maundy” service. According to the palace, the coins are intended to commemorate Jesus washing the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper. This year, 75 women and 75 men who are involved in the church and the community received these coins from Queen Camilla. In his address, Charles called them “wonderful examples of such kindness” by “giving so much of their lives to the service of others in their community.”
But King Charles will not miss the next royal Easter date: As Buckingham Palace confirmed a few days ago, according to the BBC, the 75-year-old will take part in the traditional Easter Sunday service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Sources used: twitter.com, bbc.com