King Charles Just Revived Queen Elizabeth's Easter Tradition ― and It's More Meaningful Than You Think
King Charles honors Queen Elizabeth’s tradition in North Wales, marking a poignant return to the land he served for six decades.
Leading the Royal Maundy Service at St. Asaph Cathedral on April 2, King Charles and Queen Camilla participated in a rare piece of history. It was only the second time the ceremony had taken place in Wales — and the first-ever in North Wales since 1982 — making the occasion worth the 44-year wait. More than just a date on the calendar, the service carried a heavier significance in the King’s public life — a symbolic homecoming to the land he served for over sixty years as Prince of Wales. Another aspect of the ceremony that caught everyone’s eye was Charles reviving the late Queen Elizabeth’s tradition of personally distributing the Maundy coins.
The Royal Maundy Service has a very old history of its own, having started around 600 AD — inspired by the story of Jesus washing the feet of his followers. The late Queen is known to have given the service its modern feel. By directing that the ceremony be held at different cathedrals and abbeys each year — rather than just in London — she ensured the tradition became a way for the sovereign to honor recipients across the entire UK. By bringing the service to St. Asaph, Charles is continuing that legacy. At the heart of the ceremony is the distribution of Maundy Money to pensioners who have provided exemplary service to their communities. The details of the event are also steeped in numerology and symbolic tributes. For instance, in keeping with a tradition dating back to the 15th century, Charles presented gifts to 77 men and 77 women, a number matching his current age. This was paired with a red purse containing a commemorative coin — a £5 coin for the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s birth and a 50p coin marking five decades of the King’s own charity, The King’s Trust.
Holding the service in North Wales was also a direct salute to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Since Charles acceded the throne in 2022, the couple has made Wales a focal point of their public work. For Charles — who held the title of Prince of Wales for a record-breaking 64 years — the location serves as a bridge between his lifetime of service and his son’s current role.
The ceremony also featured the Cross of Wales, a gift from the King that famously led his coronation procession in 2023. It contains a fragment of the ‘True Cross’ gifted by Pope Francis, further solidifying the deep spiritual and historical ties the King shares with the region.
The 2026 service is being hailed as a triumphant return for the King, following the historic 2024 ceremony when Camilla became the first royal consort to helm the ceremony in his stead, while Charles underwent cancer treatment. This year, however, the monarch appeared energized by the warm reception, having shared the ‘good news’ in December 2025 that his treatment was being scaled back.
