Durham Cathedral is delighted to announce that it will be hosting the Royal Maundy Service, this coming year.
Royal Maundy takes place each year on the Thursday before Easter Day and is a special service in which the King expresses his gratitude for those who serve and volunteer in their communities. The service is rooted in the tradition of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in the Upper Room the night before his death and goes back to medieval times.
During the service His Majesty will present 152 recipients, 76 men and 76 women (signifying the age of the Monarch), with specially-minted Maundy money to thank them for their outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities. These recipients have been selected from the Diocese of Durham and other dioceses across the Province of York and from Wales and Scotland.
The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham says,
“We are both honoured and delighted that The King and Queen are coming to Durham for this year's Royal Maundy Service. All of us at Durham Cathedral look forward to welcoming them and being part of this special celebration of volunteering in the local community. Maundy Thursday is about remembering the service and sacrifice of Jesus and it will be so special to celebrate in such a memorable way those who live out the example of Jesus today.”
The King's first Maundy Service as Monarch took place in 2023 in York Minster, however the tradition of hosting the service outside of London, came from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Early in her reign, Queen Elizabeth II decided Maundy money should not just be distributed to the people of London, and so she began travelling to various cathedrals or abbeys to give gifts to local people. She visited every cathedral in the country over the course of her reign, a tradition which has been continued in the current King's reign. The last Royal Maundy Service to take place at Durham Cathedral was in 1967.Each recipient of Maundy money is given two small leather purses by The King, one red and one white. The first contains a small amount of ordinary coinage which symbolises the Sovereign's gift for food and clothing. The second purse contains Maundy coins up to the value of the Sovereign's age (which this year is 76p). The coins are legal tender but recipients normally prefer to retain them as a keepsake.
The 152 recipients have recently been notified and plans are already underway to ensure a successful Royal Visit to Durham this April.
Find out more about Royal Maundy Services on The Royal Family website.
Who is attending the Royal Maundy at Durham Cathedral on Thursday 17 April?
- 152 recipients of Maundy Money who have already received a letter from Buckingham Palace inviting them to attend together with one guest each.
- People who are participating in the service.
- Representatives of the Diocese of Durham, Durham Cathedral and civic personnel.
If you have been invited to attend the service and have any questions, please contact maundy@durhamcathedral.co.uk
Can members of the public stand outside and see The King and Queen arrive?
Yes members of the public are free to attend the wider event. However, there will be (significant) restrictions to access and free movement in and around the City.
Spectators are invited to gather on Palace Green and in Durham Market Place to get the best view of the King and Queen as their motorcade passes.
If you are planning to watch from Palace Green, as the city is likely to be very busy, we encourage you to be in position by 9.30am.
City restrictions
There will be restrictions in place to ensure safety. Access to Palace Green will be limited overnight from Wednesday 16 to Thursday 17 April, while safety measures are put in place, with Windy Gap and Dun Cow Lane closed to pedestrians.
During Thursday 19 April, spectators will not be allowed to congregate on a narrow section of Saddler Street and Owengate and police, neighbourhood wardens and volunteers will be on hand to offer advice to the public on the best vantage points to safely view their majesties in the royal car.
Road closures information
On the day of the visit, all roads leading into and out of the peninsula area of Durham will be closed to vehicles from 6am to 3pm. Spectators will not be allowed to gather on a narrow section of Saddler Street and Owengate.
Police, neighbourhood wardens, and volunteers will be present to assist.
What other services are happening during Holy Week and Easter?
You can find details of other Holy Week and Easter services here.
