Both portraits were taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson.
Queen Elizabeth II traditionally spends her Easter weekend privately with her family, but usually marks Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday, with a visit to cathedrals across the country to hand out special coins to men and women over the age of 70, to thank them for their contribution to their community and church.
This year, however, owing to coronavirus restrictions, she sent the 190 recipients the Maundy gift along with a letter. Malcolm Cloutt, a veteran Second World War RAF pilot, is among this year’s recipients of Maundy gifts. Getty
The Queen has personally thanked community stalwarts for their work to “enrich the life” of their neighbours in a letter honouring Maundy money recipients.
The monarch has written to those she would have presented with symbolic coins during the annual Royal Maundy service, but who instead have received the gift by post after the event was cancelled for the second year running due to coronavirus restrictions.
“I am delighted to send you the Maundy gift which I hope you will accept as an expression of my personal thanks to you for all that you have done to enrich the life of your community,” the Queen said in her letter.
The Queen has personally thanked community stalwarts for their work to enrich the life of their neighbours in a letter honouring Maundy money recipients.
Every year on the day before Good Friday, Her Majesty presents elderly members of the Church of England with special Maundy coins.
These specially minted pieces are almost always handed out to worshippers over 70, nominated by local dioceses for their contributions to the church and the community.
For the second year running, the monarch was forced to break with centuries of tradition by sending her Maundy money to the elderly by post after the annual Royal Maundy service was cancelled for the second year running due to coronavirus restrictions.
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