Easter begins for King Charles and Queen Camilla as they’re welcomed by children bearing white bouquets at historic Maundy service in North Wales
King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the annual Royal Maundy ceremony in North Wales for the first time in its 800-year history.
The King and Queen were all smiles as they arrived at St Asaph’s Cathedral in Denbighshire on Thursday (April 2). They were greeted by children carrying bouquets of white flowers.
The Maundy ceremony is held annually on the last Thursday before Easter Sunday and commemorates the Last Supper while underlining values such as humility and sacrifice.
The hour-long service had only been held once before in Wales, in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, in 1982, but never in North Wales.
78-year-old Camilla was dazzling in her embroidered navy blue jacket dress and matching hat with lace detail.
She completed her look with a pair of black leather gloves and suede boots.
In keeping with tradition, the 77-year-old monarch distributed Maundy money to 77 local pensioners in recognition of his Christian duties. The number of people receiving red and white leather wallets always equals the age of the ruler.
The King did not attend the ceremony after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in 2024, but returned to the event last year.
Last Christmas Charles announced that his cancer treatment would be tapered off in the new year in a welcome health update, although he did not use the word ‘remission’.
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the annual Royal Maundy ceremony 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’s Cathedral
Dean of St Asaph, Nigel Williams, stated that the Maundy ceremony was held for the first time in North Wales and that they were ‘very honored’ to host it and that they hoped it would be ‘unforgettable’ for the participants.
Bishop Gregory Cameron described the ceremony as ‘a hugely significant event that we welcome at St Asaph’s’. BBC reported.
He said he was ‘nervous’ ahead of the ‘ancient’ ceremony on Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday or Lord’s Supper Thursday.
The service featured specially commissioned music by Welsh composers and musicians celebrating the return of the Royal Maundy to Wales after 44 years.
This also included the use of the Welsh Cross, a gift from the King to the Christians of Wales. He presided over Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey in 2023.
A couple chosen to receive the Maundy money said they were ‘very surprised’ by the recognition.
Susan and Roger Whitehouse, of Tywyn, Gwynedd, added: ‘We’ve just tried to serve where it’s needed.’
When he arrived, Charles was all smiles as he waved to the crowds gathered to see the King and Queen.
78-year-old Camilla was dazzling in her embroidered navy blue jacket dress and matching hat with lace detail.
King Charles during today’s Maundy ceremony
The King and Queen wave to the crowd outside St Asaph’s
The King and Queen were in perfect harmony on today’s royal outing
The King and Queen pose for photos after the Maundy ceremony
Dean of St Asaph, Nigel Williams, stated that the Maundy ceremony was held for the first time in North Wales and that they were ‘very honored’ to host it and that they hoped it would be ‘unforgettable’ for the participants.
Charles and Camilla leaving the cathedral after the ceremony
Shortly before Charles and Camilla arrived at the cathedral, vis-jacketed workers were seen covering a wall in the grounds with spray-painted graffiti reading ‘Not My King’.
Today’s event will be followed by the Royal family’s Easter ceremony 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 significantly absent.
It is understood that, with the King’s agreement and understanding, the daughters of the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have made ‘alternative plans for this Easter’.
Sources stressed they were a big part of the family at Christmas at Sandringham and will be ‘seen’ at future family celebrations.
However, under the circumstances, they were asked and given permission to stay away from their father, as he was being investigated by the police for alleged abuse of public office.
But 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 may also join the royal congregation at the five-day event.
A source close to the King told The Sun that despite their father’s surprising decline in recent years, Charles still loves his nephews and would allow them to attend royal events in the future.
Charles and Camilla greet the public
A royal fan who looks pleased to meet the King
The king looked cheerful as he spoke to a group of children after the end of the service
He is seen here chatting with a group of students
‘All the signs are that they are not judged according to the sins of their parents,’ they said.
Despite the Epstein scandal that has engulfed their family, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie remain second hosts in King Charles’ palaces, even though they are not royals; All this thanks to a ‘rental agreement’ made by their father.
The disgraced former Duke of York has been arrested, kicked out of the Royal Lodge and has been without an office at Buckingham Palace for four years due to the Epstein scandal.
But he also successfully pressed for his children to ‘hold a place’ in the palaces belonging to his elder brother, the King.
As a result, Princess Beatrice was said to still have an apartment at St James’s Palace, although her main home is in the Cotswolds.
And Eugenie has a three-bedroom property, Ivy Cottage, in Kensington Palace, which apparently acts as a ‘refuge’ because she spends half the year living in Portugal.
The brothers are unlikely to pay market rates of £15,000 to £19,000 a month for homes at two of London’s most famous addresses.
