King Charles III, the Head of the Church of England, and Queen Camilla attended the annual Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral on April 17th. Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter, which commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
The King and Queen were received on arrival by the Dean of Durham Cathedral, the Reverend Philip Plyming and the Lord High Almoner, Bishop Graham Usher before being presented with the traditional nosegays, a small flower bouquet, and joining the procession through the nave as the service began.
During the service, the King presented the Maundy recipients – 76 men and 76 women – with two purses: one red and one white, containing Maundy Money.
In the white purse are a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins. This year the Red Purse contains a £5 coin commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Queen Mother’s birth, and a 50p coin which features stories of the Second World War.
The Royal Maundy gifts are given in recognition of recipients’ outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities.
At the conclusion of the service, the King and Queen joined the Royal Maundy party for a photograph outside the North Door. The King and Queen also visited the Deanery to meet members of the community involved in the service and to see a special exhibition of the cathedral’s Magna Cartas, on display for the first time in eight years, recognising the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue in Durham’s collection.
Queen Camilla wore Queen Mary’s Celtic Knot Brooch.
The King has shared an Easter message to all who celebrate.
One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness. This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes — at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war-torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others. A few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion.
On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him. His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief.
The love He showed when he walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others.The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world — the whole world — that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death.
There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.
It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter.
Charles R
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Burmese Ruby Tiara
The Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Greville Tiara
Delhi Durbar Tiara
Cubitt-Shand Tiara
Queen’s Five Aquamarine Tiara
George IV State Diadem
Queen Mary’s Crown
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
The Cartier Halo Tiara
The Lotus Flower Tiara
Strathmore Rose Tiara
King George VI Festoon Necklace
