| Where: | Different location each year |
| When: | Maundy Thursday |
| Time: | 11am |
Royal Maundy takes place every year on the Thursday before Good Friday, which is known as Maundy Thursday. The reigning monarch gives a gift of money to the elderly – to one person for each year of the monarch’s life; in days of yore they would also wash the feet of the poor in memory of Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples, but that hasn’t happened since the late seventeenth century. It now takes place at a different Cathedral each year and the worthy recipients are chosen from the local community. Yeomen of the Queen’s Bodyguard will be present as well as the Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II visited all the Cathedrals in the country at least once for Maundy Thursday during her reign.
Helpful Hints
Participation is by invitation only but anyone can watch outside. My photos are from 2017 at Leicester and were taken from views of the big screen erected in Jubilee Square so that everyone could see the service even if they weren’t inside the Cathedral.
In 2025 it should be on Thursday 17th April, location yet to be announced. In 2024 it was at Worcester Cathedral, and Queen Camilla carried out the monarchial duties on behalf of the King..
In 2022 it was at Windsor and for the first time Prince Charles, now the King, officiated rather than the Queen; 2023 was the first year that he officiated at the Royal Maundy Service as the reigning monarch, ad was held at York Minster.In 2020 and 2021 the money was sent out in the post due to restrictions around the pandemic.
I’m advised that the official announcement of the venue each year is only made after the participants’ invitations have all been sent out, so it’s often relatively near the time.
Click here for the event website : https://www.royal.uk/history-and-traditions
Why is this service no longer shown on tv as head of state and church there should be a place for us who like to watch .
No idea, Nigel – I think it was shown last year? You’d have to ask the tv folks – probably down to cuts in their budget if they’e not showing it this time.
Gutted that I can’t watch the service this year. First time off on Maundy Thursday in 10 years.
The “Yeoman Warders” will not be present. Yeoman Warders are full time civil servants employed at the Tower of London
Those present will be members of the Yeoman of the Queens Bodyguard, a seperate unit entirely and it is an Honoury Position.
Thank you – noted and corrected!
A great shame that she’s not out and about in one of the cathedrals around the country. More a stay at home event this year.
What a ridiculous comment. It is held in a diffreent cthedral each year. THis year is the first time it has been held “at home” as you put it, since 1959.
I am from South Africa and my cousin is a recipient this year. Is there anywhere on line I could watch at least some of the event?
Try contacting http://www.royal.gov.uk – if there’s anything online I think they’ll know.