The Queen is expected to miss the traditional Easter Sunday this weekend, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, while Prince Charles is handing out a lot of money on her behalf.
Charles and Camilla will attend Sunday’s service, as will the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace told The Independent that he would not confirm which members of the royal family were present, but the queen was not expected to be there.
At a service Thursday at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Charles has a tradition of donating Maundy coins to those who have served Christian to the elderly, worked tirelessly during the pandemic or were a consolation to the needy.
The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, speaking in his role as Lord Supreme Mercy, said the Queen had a copy of the service order and a list of recipients of Maundy’s money and details.
He told the gathering before the service began: “She is nearby and would like to convey her greetings.”
Charles distributed the Maundy coins to 96 men and 96 women – as the Queen will turn 96 this year, celebrating her birthday on April 21.
Muriel Davis, 99, who served in the Women’s Army during World War II, was recognized for her 50 years of fundraising for RNLI in her hometown of Bolton.
She said after the service: “It was wonderful to meet Prince Charles, he said ‘It’s your birthday, I wish you a happy birthday in July – it’s wonderful to be here today.’
Mrs. Davis will celebrate her 100th birthday on July 9, and when asked if she misses the Queen, she joked about replacing Charles, saying, “I was glad to see someone.”
There were only four other cases in which a member of the royal family stood up for the Queen of the Royal Maundy. The last time was in 1970, when the Queen Mother stood while the monarch was on tour in New Zealand.
The Royal Pure is an ancient ceremony that originates from the command given by Christ after washing the feet of his disciples the day before Good Friday.
Earlier this week, the queen revealed that her attack on Covid left her feeling “very tired and exhausted”, a little over a month after she tested positive for the virus.
Speaking during a virtual engagement with staff and patients at Royal London Hospital, the Queen added: “This terrible pandemic. That’s not a good result. “
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