Queen Camilla is set to make history by filling in King Charles’s shoes at an upcoming event which is part of the royal Easter tradition.
On Maundy Thursday, which this year will fall on March 28, Camilla will reportedly become the first consort of the sovereign to hand out Royal Maundy gifts – a duty which King Charles would normally undertake.
These gifts consist of ceremonial coins and are part of a tradition dating back centuries. As part of the Maundy Thursday tradition, Queen Camilla will present Maundry money – purses of coins – to 75 men and 75 women in recognition of their service to their community.
The city and cathedral where this ceremony is carried out change every year. This month, it will take place at Worcester Cathedral.
The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, who as Lord High Almoner will accompany the Queen as she presents the Maundy money, said: “It is an honour to be able to welcome Her Majesty the Queen to Worcester.
“This is an immensely special service and I know it will mean a huge amount to those who have been chosen to receive the coins, all of whom will have given years of service to their local communities.”
The Queen has been stepping up to the plate since King Charles was diagnosed with cancer, taking the lead on several royal events including the recent thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine of Greece.
Buckingham Palace released a statement on February 6, announcing that King Charles had already started “regular treatment” and would postpone public-facing duties for the time being.
No further details were shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis, but the Palace said King Charles remained “wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.
The King, who is thought to be undertaking treatment in London and spending the rest of his time on the Sandringham estate, continues to carry out his constitutional duties, including dealing every morning with the government’s red box.
Since the diagnosis was made public, he has been spotted in public a few times while walking to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham for Sunday service.
On February 21, he was also filmed meeting UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for their first weekly meeting since his diagnosis.
Alongside smashing royal tradition on Maundy Thursday, Queen Camilla is also widely expected to lead the country next Monday, when senior royals, government officials and members of the Commonwealth will gather at Westminster Abbey for the yearly Commonwealth Day service, although the Palace has not yet confirmed the King’s absence.
