Royaltopia: Royal Tradition Honors Community Service - King Charles Distributes Maundy Money at Historic Durham Cathedral
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In a celebration of ancient royal tradition and Christian values, His Majesty King Charles III presented specially minted Maundy coins to 152 deserving recipients during Thursday's ceremonial service at Durham Cathedral. The religious observance, which takes place annually on the Thursday before Easter, saw the 76-year-old monarch distribute coins to an equal number of men and women—76 of each, corresponding to his age—recognizing their outstanding contributions to community service across the United Kingdom.
The ceremony marked a significant personal milestone for the King, who missed last year's service while undergoing cancer treatment. In high spirits and showing improved health, he shared a lighthearted moment with a well-wisher who complimented his appearance, quipping "it's all smoke and mirrors" in his characteristic humorous style.
Queen Camilla, elegantly attired in a dark green Anna Valentine coat dress complemented by a matching Philip Treacy hat, accompanied her husband for the solemn yet joyful occasion. Last year, she made history by becoming the first royal consort to stand in for the monarch at this traditional ceremony while the King focused on his health recovery.
Following time-honored custom, each recipient received two purses from the sovereign: a white leather purse containing silver Maundy coins equaling the King's age in pence, and a red leather purse holding commemorative coins—this year featuring special editions honoring both the Queen Mother and World War II.
Professor Michael Snape from Durham University's Department of Theology and Religion notes that the ceremony derives from Christ's interactions with his apostles at the Last Supper, where he washed their feet and delivered a new commandment—mandatum in Latin, from which "Maundy" originates—to "love one another." This tradition embodies the concept of servant leadership that has resonated through centuries of British monarchy.
The event carries special significance for Durham Diocese, hosting the Royal Maundy Service for the first time in over 50 years. Nearly half of the honored recipients were selected from the Diocese of Durham, with others representing communities across the Province of York, Wales, and Scotland, according to the Right Reverend Sarah Clark, Bishop of Jarrow and Acting Bishop of Durham.
Prior to the service, the King issued a thoughtful Easter message reflecting on the paradoxes of human nature—our capacity for both cruelty and kindness—connecting these themes to the Easter story and emphasizing the importance of love, hope, and faith. "The greatest of these is love," he shared, underscoring the compassionate values at the heart of the Easter season.
After the formal proceedings, the royal couple delighted crowds with an impromptu walkabout outside the 932-year-old cathedral. Among the well-wishers was Pat Johnson from Jarrow, who brought her 18-month-old Pembrokeshire Corgi named Lilibet, capturing the King's attention and friendly inquiries about the dog.
The historic visit also included a special moment when the royal couple viewed Durham Cathedral's 800-year-old Magna Carta. "Remarkable, great to see it intact," observed the King, appreciating this cornerstone document of British constitutional history.
While most onlookers enthusiastically welcomed the royal visitors, a small contingent of anti-monarchy protesters from the Republic movement was also present, describing the ceremony as "a tone-deaf tradition" amid current economic challenges. Nevertheless, the centuries-old ritual of royal service and gratitude remained the focal point of this meaningful pre-Easter observance.
Here's the King's Message in full:
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
