2016-03-28 Mon

Edward I (1274 to 1307) started the traditional Maundy Thursday act of giving alms to the poor in the 19th century. This centuries-old Christian ceremony of handing out Maundy money on Holy Thursday was celebrated by Queen Elizabeth II this year as well.

Red purses with 2016 UK £5 coin commemorating the Queen’s 90th birthday and a 2016 UK 50p coin memorializing the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings were handed out to 90 men and 90 women. The white purse had the Maundy coins (silver pennies, two pences, three pences and fourpences) with their worth 90 pence. All the coins were struck by Royal Mint. The ceremony is based on a verse by Jesus: ‘I give you a new commandment: Love one another: As I have loved you, so you are to love one another’.

The number of recipients of the gifts has changed annually to equal the monarch’s age. Since the Queen is now 90 years old, an equal number of men and women were chosen to receive the Maundy money.