Queen moves congregation to tears as she hands out coins for Maundy service
THE Queen moved congregation members to tears today when she handed out commemorative coins at the annual Royal Maundy service.
Queen Elizabeth ll attends the Royal Maundy Service at Windsor Castle
She beamed as she undertook the traditional sovereign's duty of giving red and white purses containing Maundy money to pensioners chosen in recognition of their service to the community and the Church of England.
In a turquoise wool crepe dress and tweed coat by Karl Ludwig and a matching hat with lace trim by Angela Kelly, the monarch, who will be 90 on April 21, handed out money to 90 men and 90 women.
Recipients and their guests could be seen wiping away tears after spending a brief moment with the monarch during the service, held in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the first time since 1959.
Queen Elizabeth II distributes the traditional Maundy money
Perhaps one should know what the Royal Family are doing
In a break with tradition, the recipients were selected from across the country, instead of the local diocese as is usual.
The red purse contained a £5 coin commemorating the Queen's 90th birthday and a 50p coin marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, while the white purse contained uniquely minted Maundy coins in small denominations adding up to 90p.
The Queen moved members of the congregation to tears today by handing out £5 coins
Among the 180 recipients was Tim O'Donovan, 84, a retired insurance broker from Datchet, Berkshire, who since 1979 has compiled an annual survey of the Royal Family's engagements published in the Court Circular.
Mr O'Donovan, who is also a retired lay steward for St George's Chapel, said he began keeping the record "out of curiosity" after thinking "perhaps one should know what the Royal Family are doing".
He said it was a "privilege" and "marvellous" to be part of the service, instead of watching on.
The bells of the chapel rang out as the Queen's procession, which included the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David David Conner and the Lord High Almoner, the Right Reverend John Inge, left the service.
The Queen beamed throughout the ceremony
Excited well-wishers cheered as the group posed on the steps of the chapel for photos.
The ceremony, performed by monarchs since King John in 1210 although not by all of them, always takes place on the Thursday before Good Friday.
In a break with tradition, the recipients were selected from across the country
It originates from the instruction, or mandatum, to love one another that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper after washing their feet.
Initially the sovereign gave money to the poor - and washed recipients' feet. But foot-washing ended with James II in the 18th century.