The Queen visits York

The Queen visited York earlier today for the annual Maundy service, a traditional royal ceremony held on the Thursday before Easter Sunday in which the reigning monarch honours members of the public for services to their church.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and their granddaughter Princess Beatrice, Her Royal Highness spent the day in York enjoying a selection of the city’s historic wonders and local attractions.

She was greeted by cardboard cutouts of herself, miles of bunting, gifts of flowers from children, fancy dress costumes and an estimated 15,000 tourists, who flocked to the centre to catch a glimpse of royalty.

After arriving at York Station at 10.45am, the Queen and her Royal party travelled to Micklegate Bar in the Royal Car. Visitors had been arriving at the city’s traditional entrance since 5am to see the Royal procession.

Here, Her Royal Highness and the other Royals were welcomed by a civic party led by Kersten England, the chief executive of the City of York Council and were presented with traditional nosegays, which are wreaths of flowers.

Wearing a wig and cape, the chief executive greeted the monarch to the city and invited her to touch the historic Sigismund Sword, presented to York in 1437.

The Royals then travelled to the Minster for the service, which had to commence half an hour later due to unexpected delays, where the Queen distributed Maundy money to 86 men and 86 women – one for each of the years she has lived – as part of an annual Easter tradition.

In keeping with tradition, purses were awarded to the men and women; the white one contained the Maundy Money coins while the other red purse held a £5 coin and the Queen’s newly minted 50p piece.

The hour-long service included the singing of the national anthem and prayers.

There was not a free seat in the Minster; the crowds surrounding the city had travelled from all across England, and many from all around the globe. The Micklegate Quarter team organised a fun street-party for after the Queen’s departure for the happy onlookers.

The procession then exited through the Minster’s great west doors before walking to Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s residence. Here, the Royal party dined at an invite-only meal, the guestlist to which comprised of high-profile locals such as Archbishop of York John Sentamu, leaders of York’s political parties – including ex-YUSU president James Alexander – and members of the civic party. They were served Aromatic Duck Salad, Chicken Pimento Roulade, and coffee with chocolate mints for lunch.

The final stop of the tour was at the Yorkshire Museum, where the Queen was shown around the much-acclaimed ‘1212: Making of the City’ exhibition, which marks the 800th anniversary of the city being awarded a Royal Charter and becoming a self-governing city.

One second-year student and a self-confessed royalist, Hannah Jones, commented: “I have never seen the city so full, but it has been a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. I just wish I’d been in the service.”

Another student, who did not head into York to watch the Royal parade, said: “When I read the Queen’s route and activities in and around the city, I couldn’t believe it. Mansion on a Thursday? What an error.”

There was a blanket road closure of the city centre during the procession. The visit, which marks the first time the Royal Maundy service has been held at York Minster for 40 years, also celebrated her Jubilee later this year.