Since King Charles III's cancer diagnosis. (75) Queen Camilla (76) regularly represents her husband at appearances and events - including on Maundy Thursday. The 76-year-old attended the traditional "Royal Maundy" service, which this year took place in Worcester Cathedral, on Thursday morning.
The royal wife wore a white wool coat with flower brooches on the lapel, a camel-colored fur hat, black gloves and beige boots. She was greeted outside the church by the Bishop of Worcester, but also by loud protests from an anti-monarchy group.
The traditional service on the Thursday before Easter is one of the most important dates in the royal calendar. Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) only missed it once in the last 50 years of her reign - a few months before her death. At that time she had Charles and Camilla represent her.
King Charles III Meanwhile, used modern technology to be part of the service despite his illness. The monarch had previously recorded a speech that was played during the mass. In it, he emphasized the importance of "serving and caring for each other" and how sad he was not able to be present. The monarch recorded the speech at Buckingham Palace in mid-March. To mark the occasion, the royal family published a new photo of Charles.
It has been a tradition since the 17th century for the British monarch to distribute specially minted silver coins to people who have rendered service to the community as part of the "Royal Maundy" service. According to the palace, the coins are intended to commemorate Jesus washing the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper. This year, 75 women and 75 men who are involved in the church and the community received these coins from Queen Camilla. In his address, Charles called them "wonderful examples of such kindness" by "giving so much of their lives to the service of others in their community."
But King Charles will not miss the next royal Easter date: As Buckingham Palace confirmed a few days ago, according to the BBC, the 75-year-old will take part in the traditional Easter Sunday service in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
