King Charles made a light-hearted joke about his health as he returned to the Royal Maundy Service today at Durham Cathedral after missing last year due to his cancer diagnosis.
The monarch, 76, who issued a special Easter message earlier this morning, appeared in high spirits as he arrived alongside Queen Camilla at the Cathedral in the northeast of England.
Speaking to crowds afterwards, Charles joked that ‘it was all mirrors’ when a well-wisher said he was looking well while he and the Queen marked Maundy Thursday paying respects to Second World War heroes and the Queen Mother.
The King and Queen went on a ‘walkabout’ outside the cathedral as hundreds gathered to cheer them on their way.
Pat Johnson, 54, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, attracted Charles’s attention after bringing 18-month-old Pembrokeshire corgi Lilibet to the stand outside the service.
She said afterwards: ‘He asked if she was friendly and he asked me what her name was.
‘I said I named her after your mother and said “you look well” and he said “you are very kind but it’s all mirrors”.’
A group of several dozen campaigners from anti-monarchists Republic were shouting slogans through a megaphone from a designated protest area.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Durham Cathedral for a Royal Maundy Service today
The King met attendees outside the Cathedral before entering alongside Camilla and other attendees.
Camilla, 77, who last year stepped in for Charles at the service amid his cancer treatment, looked elegant in a dark green coat dress by Anna Valentine and a striking velvet hat in a matching shade by Phillip Tracey.
Once inside the Cathedral, members of the Church presented Their Majesties with a small flower bouquet before joining the procession through the nave.
During the service, the King presented the Maundy recipients – 76 men and 76 women – with two purses, one red and one white, containing Maundy Money.
The white purse holds a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins, and the red purse contains a £5 coin commemorating The Queen Mother and a 50p coin featuring stories of WWII.
The Royal Maundy gifts recognise recipients’ outstanding Christian service and their efforts in making a difference in the lives of people in their local communities.
The King made two trips around the cathedral during the hour-long ceremony presenting the coins and pausing to speak to each worthy recipient.
The ceremony dates back to the 13th century and attracted a small protest by anti-monarchy group Republic were heard shouting ‘Down with the crown’ and ‘Not my King’ outside.
The monarch, 76, will present Maundy recipients with Maundy money during today’s service in Durham
Charles was delighted to meet Lilibet the Corgi on a walkabout following the service
77-year-old Camilla put on an elegant display in a bottle green dress and matching velvet green hat
Pictured: King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral on Thursday
His Majesty warmly greeted a member of the congregation during the Royal Maundy Service today
The King and Queen also spent time marvelling at the cathedral’s 800-year-old Magna Carta.
Charles said: ‘Remarkable, great to see it intact.’
Charles and Camilla were met on arrival by the Dean of Durham Cathedral, The Reverend Philip Plyming and the Lord High Almoner, Bishop Graham Usher.
Inside the cathedral they were presented with the traditional nosegays, a small flower bouquet.
During the service, The King presented the Maundy Money assisted by Lord High Almoner, currently the Bishop of Norwich.
Speaking about her award afterwards, Sister Josepha, from Sunderland, said she was ‘honoured and humbled’ to receive coins for work with young people and families and domestic violence.
She added: ‘It is a privilege to be chosen for this special occasion.’
Graham Young, of County Durham, received his coins for establishing Traidcraft and community work.
Camilla and Charles shared a laugh during the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral on Thursday
The 76-year-old monarch was presented with a bright bouquet of flowers as he entered the service
Pictured: Charles and Camilla during the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral on Thursday
The 76-year-old, who issued a special Easter message earlier today, smiled as he entered the Cathedral
He said: ‘Working in the service of communities locally and worldwide has been a way of life for me. Meeting the King has not! I’m honoured to have been nominated and humbly accept.’
Anne Johnson, of Hartlepool, received coins for helping isolated communities and said she was ‘delighted and proud’.
She added: ‘It is a huge honour to receive this precious gift and participate in this ancient tradition.’
This was Charles’s second Maundy Service as King and Queen Camilla stood in for him last year after he had been forced to rest after being diagnosed with cancer.
Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter and commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles.
The distribution of alms and the washing of the feet on the Thursday of Holy Week are an ancient tradition and can be traced back to King John in 1210.
This year, the Recipients have been chosen from the Dioceses of the Northern Province of England and Scotland.
Earlier today, King Charles reflected on the ‘paradox of human life’ in a special message released for Easter.
Charles greeted a member of the congregation during the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral
The 77-year-old Queen waved to members of the public who waited outside the service in Durham
Charles put on a dapper display in a smart black tailcoat, white shirt, and grey pinstripe trousers
Their Majesties appeared focused as the Royal Maundy service began at Durham Cathedral
His Majesty spoke of the ‘puzzles of humanity’ and the human ability to inflict both ‘great cruelty’ and ‘great kindness’.
Charles reflected on humanity’s ‘paradoxes’ – shown both in the Easter story and also the scenes witnessed in ‘war torn countries’.
He said: ‘One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness.
‘This paradox of human life runs through the Easter story and in the scenes that daily come before our eyes – at one moment, terrible images of human suffering and, in another, heroic acts in war torn countries where humanitarians of every kind risk their own lives to protect the lives of others.’
Referencing a recent engagement, he added: ‘A few weeks ago, I met many such people at a reception in Buckingham Palace and felt a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion.’
Wishing the nation a ‘blessed and peaceful Easter’, the King went on to reflect on the Easter story.
He continued: ‘On Maundy Thursday, Jesus knelt and washed the feet of many of those who would abandon Him.
‘His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries and is central to Christian belief.
Camilla, who last year stepped in for Charles due to his cancer diagnosis, smiled as the entered the Cathedral
The monarch took the time to greet members of the congregation during the service on Thursday
Camilla and Charles smiled for a photograph with other attendees outside the Cathedral
‘The love He showed when He walked the Earth reflected the Jewish ethic of caring for the stranger and those in need, a deep human instinct echoed in Islam and other religious traditions, and in the hearts of all who seek the good of others.
‘The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world — the whole world — that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death.
‘There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. ‘And the greatest of these is love’. It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter.’
Last year, Queen Camilla assumed the role of her husband in delivering the annual speech in person. Meanwhile, Charles issued a special speech via video message.
The King delivered his first Maundy Service as monarch in 2023 at York Minster, but was too unwell to attend last year’s service in person, instead offering a video message.
The tradition of hosting the service outside of London came from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming, Dean of Durham said: ‘We are both honoured and delighted that The King and Queen are coming to Durham for this year’s Royal Maundy Service.
Members of the congregation looked delighted to meet His Majesty at the service on Thursday
Charles added to his smart outfit with a light blue patterned tie and matching pocket square
Pictured: King Charles carried flowers outside Durham Cathedral on the day of the 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.’
Last week, Charles and Camilla touched down in the UK once more after their action-packed state visit to Italy.
The King and Queen landed back in Scotland following the trip, which included them celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary at a state banquet.
On the visit, where the royals got to have a private audience with the Pope and enjoyed the best of the nation’s hospitality over four days, Charles made moving speeches in both the country’s Parliament and Palazzo del Quirinale, highlighting unity and ‘eternal friendship’.
After touching down on home soil, they will be able to spend a quiet Easter together.
The monarch went ahead with the trip to Italy with Queen Camilla despite a brief hospital stay at the end of last month, which forced him to cancel a string of engagements at the last minute.
He was briefly under observation, forcing him to cancel a scheduled trip to Birmingham – but he returned home to Clarence House on ‘good form’ that evening and was able to do some work.
The short hospital stay was dubbed by royal sources a ‘minor bump in the road’ – and the King followed it with a near-normal, full working week at Windsor Castle, after a weekend of recovery at Highgrove – and taking a day and a half away from duties.
The King has been undergoing weekly treatment at a cancer unit in London since his diagnosis last February – which has continued into the new year.
