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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Gregor Young

What is Maundy money and why is the King handing it out?

THE King and Queen Consort arrived at York Minster for the annual Royal Maundy service on Thursday.

Charles and Camilla were greeted at the Great West Doors by the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Dominic Barrington, and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.

They were presented with the traditional nosegay, a small flower bouquet, as they entered the cathedral.

The King moved around the minster presenting 74 men and 74 women with the Maundy money as the congregation of about 1500 looked on.

The National: Sue Ward from Portsmouth holding her gift of Maundy money. Photograph undated. Sue Ward from Portsmouth holding her gift of Maundy money. Photograph undated. (Image: PA)

What is Maundy money?

The money is presented to thank the recipients for their outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities.

The specially-minted silver coins were equivalent to the value of 74p – signifying Charles’s age – to thank the pensioners for their service in local communities.

The King presented each recipient with a red and a white purse, stopping to chat with many.

The white purse contained a set of specially-minted silver Maundy coins equivalent in value to the age of the King. The red purse contained two commemorative coins.

This year, one celebrates the King’s forthcoming 75th birthday and the other commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Windrush Generation.

The Maundy service is held to "commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper", according to the Royal Family's website. 

It is held on the Thursday before Easter Sunday each year, and Queen Elizabeth previously presented Maundy money at "every Anglican cathedral in England" during her reign. 

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