For the first time during her historic 70 year reign, The Queen was represented at the Maundy Thursday service by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The Prince handed out the traditional Maundy money, which was created specifically to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
96 men and 96 women were chosen to receive Maundy money this year to mark Her Majesty’s 96 years. They received a red purse and a white purse. The red piece features a £5 coin and a 50p coin that were both specifically designed for the Platinum Jubilee by the Royal Mint. The coins have largely remained the same since they were first introduced during Charles II’s reign, but this year’s coins were newly minted. The white purse contains 10p and 3p coins that total 96p, again in honour of The Queen’s age.
The Maundy Thursday tradition is based on the tradition of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet before the Last Supper. This tradition shifted from the monarch washing the feet of the poor to giving them alms during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign.
The Royal Maundy ceremony shifted in the 18th century; bishops would perform the ceremony instead of the monarch. In 1931, Princess Marie Louise attended the ceremony and later convinced her cousin, King George V, to revive the Royal Maundy service.
The service is held in a different cathedral each year, with it returning to Westminster Abbey every decade. Due to the global health crisis, the service was not held in 2020, and the 2021 and 2022 services were held at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The Queen has only missed four Royal Maundy services prior to this year; she missed the service following the births of Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and when away on tour in 1954 and 1970.
