King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the annual Royal Maundy service that was held in North Wales for the first time in its 800-year history.
The King and Queen were all smiles as they arrived at the St Asaph Cathedral in Denbighshire on Thursday, April 2. They were greeted by children bearing bouquets of white flowers.
The Maundy service is organised every year on the last Thursday before Easter Sunday and commemorates the Last Supper, while underscoring values like humility and altruism.
The hour-long service has only been held in Wales once before, in 1982 in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, but never in North Wales.
Camilla, 78, was radiant in an embellished, navy coat dress and matching hat with lace detailing.
She finished the look with a pair of black leather gloves and suede boots.
In keeping with tradition, the monarch, 77, also distributed Maundy money to 77 local pensioners in recognition of their Christian duty. The number of people who receive the red and white leather purses is always equal to the monarch’s age.
The King did not attend the service in 2024 after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, but returned to the event last year.
Last Christmas, Charles revealed his cancer treatment will be scaled back in the new year in a welcome health update – although he did not use the word ‘remission’.
King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the annual Royal Maundy service that was held in North Wales for the first time in its 800-year history
They were all smiles as they posed for a group photo after the service at St Asaph Cathedral
This is the first time the Maundy service has ever been held in North Wales, as the Dean of St Asaph, Nigel Williams, said they were ‘deeply honoured’ to host it and hoped it would be ‘memorable’ for attendees.
Bishop Gregory Cameron described the service as a ‘deeply meaningful occasion which we are pleased to welcome to St Asaph’, the BBC reported.
He also said he was ‘nervous’ ahead of the ‘ancient’ service on Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday or Thursday of the Lord’s Supper.
The service featured specially commissioned music by Welsh composers and musicians, celebrating the return of the Royal Maundy to Wales after 44 years.
It also included the use of the processional Cross of Wales, a gift from the King to the Christians of Wales. It headed Charles’s coronation at Westminster Abbey in 2023.
One couple chosen to receive the Maundy money said they were ‘very surprised’ by the recognition.
Susan and Roger Whitehouse from Tywyn, Gwynedd, added: ‘We’ve simply tried to serve where needed.’
Upon his arrival, Charles beamed as he waved at the crowds that had gathered for a glimpse of the King and Queen.
Camilla, 78, was radiant in an embellished, navy coat dress and matching hat with lace detailing
King Charles during today’s Maundy service
The King and Queen waving at crowds outside St Asaph
The King and Queen were perfectly in step during today’s royal outing
The King and Queen posing for photos after the Maundy service
This is the first time the Maundy service has ever been held in North Wales, as the Dean of St Asaph, Nigel Williams, said they were ‘deeply honoured’ to host it and hoped it would be ‘memorable’ for attendees
Charles and Camilla leaving the cathedral after the service
Shortly before Charles and Camilla reached the cathedral, workers in vis-jackets were seen covering spray-painted graffiti that read ‘Not My King’ on a wall in the grounds.
Today’s event will be followed by the Royals’ Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Sunday.
While senior members, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, are expected to attend, the York princesses will be notably absent.
It is understood that, with the agreement and understanding of the King, disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s daughters have made ‘alternative plans for this Easter’.
Sources have stressed that they were very much part of the family Christmas at Sandringham and ‘will be seen’ at future family celebrations.
But under the current circumstances, as their father is investigated by police over allegations of misconduct in public office, permission has been sought and granted for them to stay away.
However, King Charles is believed to have invited Beatrice and Eugenie to Royal Ascot this June.
Beatrice’s husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi and Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank might also join the royal congregation at the five-day event.
Charles is still fond of his nieces despite the astonishing downfall of their father in recent years and will permit them to attend royal events in future, a source close to the King told The Sun.
Charles and Camilla greeting members of the public
A royal fan looking delighted to meet the King
The King appeared in high spirits as he spoke to a group of children after the service concluded
He is seen here chatting with a group of schoolboys
‘All the signs are they’re not being judged on the sins of the parents,’ they said.
Despite the Epstein scandal, which has engulfed their family, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie continue to have second homes inside King Charles’s palaces despite not being working royals – all thanks to a ‘rental deal’ struck by their father.
The disgraced former Duke of York has been arrested, kicked out of Royal Lodge and has not had an office at Buckingham Palace for four years due to the Epstein scandal.
But he has also successfully pushed for his children to ‘retain a foothold’ in palaces belonging to his older brother, the King.
As a consequence, Princess Beatrice still has an apartment in St James’s Palace, despite her main home being in the Cotswolds, it was said.
And Eugenie has Ivy Cottage, a three-bedroom property at Kensington Palace, which apparently serves as a ‘bolthole’ because she spends half the year living in Portugal.
It is highly unlikely that the siblings will be paying the market rates of between £15,000 and £19,000-a-month for homes in two of London’s most illustrious addresses.