Saturday, April 23, 2011

[United-Kingdom] [VIDEO] Queen Elizabeth II hands out coins at Maundy Service















As we celebrated the Queen's 85th birthday, is was also time for the annual Maundy Service. As seen on Hello, the royal matriarch, who was elegant in an eye-catching turquoise coat, positively beamed as she greeted wellwishers.
In an 800-year custom, the monarch honoured 85 men and 85 women - one for each year of her age - by handing them purses of Maundy money.
In line with tradition, the sum of money, also equivalent to the Queen's age, was given to pensioners chosen for their community service.
So one purse contained 85p in uniquely minted Maundy coins. The other held a £5 coin celebrating the Duke of Edinbrugh's 90th birthday in June, a 50p coin marking the London Olympics in 2012.
By coincidence April 21 was the day the Queen actually turned 85. It's the first time the traditional Easter celebration has fallen on her birthday.




Check out the video of the event, including Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's reading of the Bible

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