Queen Hands Out Maundy Money at St. George’s Chapel

Queen Elizabeth helped celebrate Holy Thursday by handing out Maundy money to 93 men and 93 women during Maundy Thursday service held this year at St. George’s Chapel.

The Queen commemorates Maundy by offering 'alms' to senior citizens – retired pensioners recommended by clergy and ministers of all denominations, in recognition of their service to the church and to the local community. pic.twitter.com/QSQclEyF0X — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 18, 2019

Royal Maundy dates back centuries. Some of the specifics of the traditional service have changed but it still involves individuals receiving gifts from the monarch.

"In modern times this has evolved into a tradition of giving a monetary reward in pence equaling the age of the ruling monarch to a number of men and a number of women each equaling in total number the age of the monarch," describes The Royal Mint, who produces the coins. "The 2019 dated Maundy set consists of four coins with a total value of 10 pence, individually a Fourpence, Threepence, Twopence and One Penny, all with the young head depiction of the Queen engraved by Mary Gillick."

Mary Gillick’s effigy of the Queen appeared on the first coins during her reign in 1953. They differ from standard circulating coins like those produced now with the fifth portrait of the monarch.

On Thursday, each of the 186 elderly people, selected in recognition of their service to the Church and local community, received a red and white purse.

Every red purse held a 2019 UK £5 coin celebrating the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth and a 2019 UK 50p coin portraying Sherlock Holmes in commemoration of the 160th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birth.

The Red Purse contains a £5 coin, commemorating the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria's birth & a 50p coin portraying Sherlock Holmes. pic.twitter.com/hgfWRUAxOl — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 18, 2019

White purses included silver Maundy coins with their face values adding up to 93 pence for the Queen’s age on Sunday.

The money in the White Purse includes 1, 2, 3 and 4 silver penny pieces, the sum equals the number of years of the Monarch’s age. This year the purse will equal 93p as Her Majesty turns 93 on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/fvkuaPjuNB — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 18, 2019

A short video, courtesy of The Royal Family Channel, offers raw footage of Queen Elizabeth II during the traditional ceremony.

To ready more about the unique Maundy money, visit this Royal Mint webpage.