King Charles and Queen to visit Durham Cathedral in April

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The King and Queen are set to visit Durham in April, where they will take part in the Maundy Service at the Cathedral.

Durham Cathedral has announced it will host the Royal Maundy Service on April 17, 2025.

The Royal Maundy Service is an annual tradition held on the Thursday before Easter Day and involves the King expressing his gratitude to those who serve and volunteer in their communities, a practice that dates back to medieval times.

The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham, said: "We are both honoured and delighted that The King and Queen are coming to Durham for this year's Royal Maundy Service.

"All of us at Durham Cathedral look forward to welcoming them and being part of this special celebration of volunteering in the local community.

"Maundy Thursday is about remembering the service and sacrifice of Jesus, and it will be so special to celebrate in such a memorable way those who live out the example of Jesus today."

The service is rooted in the tradition of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in the Upper Room the night before his death.

During the service, the King will present Maundy money to 152 recipients, 76 men and 76 women, in recognition of their outstanding Christian service and the difference they have made to people's lives in their local communities.

(Image: PA) These recipients have been selected from the Diocese of Durham and other dioceses across the Province of York, as well as from Wales and Scotland.

Each recipient of Maundy money is given two small leather purses by the King, one red and one white.

The first contains a small amount of ordinary coinage symbolising the Sovereign's gift for food and clothing, while the second purse contains Maundy coins up to the value of the Sovereign's age.

These coins are legal tender, but are usually retained as keepsakes.

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The King's first Maundy Service as Monarch took place in 2023 at York Minster.

The tradition of hosting the service outside of London was started by the late Queen Elizabeth II early in her reign.

She believed Maundy money should not just be distributed to the people of London, beginning the practice of travelling to various cathedrals or abbeys to give gifts to local people.

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