King Charles III and Queen Camilla marked the beginning of this year’s Easter celebrations with a visit to Durham Cathedral, following the release of the King’s personal message reflecting on humanity.
Upon their arrival, the royal couple were formally welcomed by the Dean of Durham Cathedral, The Reverend Philip Plyming, and Bishop Graham Usher, the Lord High Almoner.
Inside the historic cathedral, Their Majesties received traditional nosegays – delicate bouquets of flowers – before participating in a procession through the Nave as the Easter service commenced. A significant element of the ceremony involved the presentation of Royal Maundy gifts. The King bestowed 76 purses each to 76 men and women, one purse red and one white.
The white purse contained specially minted silver coins known as Maundy money, while the red purse included a commemorative £5 coin honoring Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and a 50p coin depicting narratives from World War II. These gifts are bestowed annually in recognition of exceptional Christian service and contributions to local communities.
Following the conclusion of the service, King Charles and Queen Camilla joined the Royal Maundy Party for a photograph taken outside the North Door. They then visited the Deanery to meet members of the community who played an integral role in the day’s proceedings.
The royal visit also included a viewing of a special exhibition featuring Durham Cathedral’s Magna Cartas, displayed publicly for the first time in eight years to commemorate the 800th anniversary of their 1225 issue.
Despite enthusiastic support from hundreds of onlookers who had been waiting for hours, the event also saw a demonstration by Republic, an anti-monarchy group.
“Republic is committed to ongoing protests at royal events,” stated Graham Smith, spokesperson for the organization. “This is our third year attending the Maundy parade, and we will be present every year from now on.”
Earlier in the day, King Charles released an Easter message from Buckingham Palace, reflecting on the complexities of human nature:
“One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness.”
The King continued to reflect upon this paradox, drawing connections between the Easter story, current events and his own interactions with humanitarian workers. He spoke of feeling “a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion,” following a recent reception at Buckingham Palace.
Referencing Jesus’s act of humility – washing the feet of His disciples – King Charles emphasized its significance within Christian belief: “His humble action was a token of His love that knew no bounds or boundaries.”
He further noted, “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.”
Concluding his message, King Charles underscored the enduring themes of Easter: “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.”
He offered his final well wishes: “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.”
