Hundreds gathered at St Asaph Cathedral in north Wales on Thursday for the annual Royal Maundy service, only the second time in its 800-year history that the ceremony has been held in Wales.
The King and Queen presented Royal Maundy gifts to around 77 men and 77 women, chosen for their long-standing service to churches and communities in Wales and across the UK.
Reuters
The event marked the first meeting between His Majesty The King and The Most Reverend Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales. Recipients received Maundy Money in two purses: a white purse with silver coins totalling 77 pennies, matching the King’s age, and a red purse containing a £5 coin commemorating 100 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, plus a 50p coin marking the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust.
The service also featured the Processional Cross of Wales, a gift from the King containing a fragment of the True Cross, presented by His Holiness Pope Francis.
“Many thanks to all those who were involved in organising and running this wonderful service,” organisers said.
Reuters
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, with the distribution of alms and washing of feet, a centuries-old tradition.
St Asaph Cathedral, known in Welsh as Llanelwy, is the UK’s smallest ancient cathedral, dating from the 14th century and home to a 1588 copy of the William Morgan Bible. It remains an active centre of worship and a key heritage site in north Wales.