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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Historic first for Maundy service | Historic first for Maundy service |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The Queen has broken with centuries of tradition by attending the first Maundy Thursday service outside England and Wales. | |
| It was held in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland's ecclesiastical capital. | |
| The leaders of the four main churches on the island attended the traditional alms-giving ceremony. | |
| It marked the final day of a three-day visit by the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh to Northern Ireland. | |
| Representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Hindu faiths have also attended the service, at which the Catholic Primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, and the Duke of Edinburgh gave readings. | |
| Maundy Thursday has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Christian Church. | Maundy Thursday has been celebrated since the earliest days of the Christian Church. |
| Last Supper | Last Supper |
| The word Maundy is derived from Latin and refers to Christ's commandment at the Last Supper to love one another, before he washed the feet of his disciples. | The word Maundy is derived from Latin and refers to Christ's commandment at the Last Supper to love one another, before he washed the feet of his disciples. |
| The tradition of the sovereign giving alms to the poor stretches back to at least the 12th Century and there are continuous records from the reign of King Edward 1. | The tradition of the sovereign giving alms to the poor stretches back to at least the 12th Century and there are continuous records from the reign of King Edward 1. |
| From the middle ages, the number of recipients mirrors the sovereign's years. | From the middle ages, the number of recipients mirrors the sovereign's years. |
| The Queen presented Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people - 82 men and 82 women. | |
| These people came from all over Northern Ireland and were deemed to have made a significant contribution to church or community life. | |
| The Queen is presenting Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people | The Queen is presenting Maundy Thursday alms purses to 164 people |
| The distribution of the alms came in two parts. The red purse contained an allowance in place of food and clothing given in bygone times. | |
| In the white purse there were Maundy coins, as many pence as the Queen is years old (82). | |
| The coins are legal tender, but because they are so rare, are sought after by collectors. | |
| Pupils from local schools, who are known as Maundy children, have attended to the Queen. | |
| The Chapel Royal Choir and the choir of St Patrick's Cathedral led the worship. | |
| Earlier on Thursday, the Queen was guest of honour at a reception in the Royal School Armagh held to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the five Royal Schools of Ulster. | Earlier on Thursday, the Queen was guest of honour at a reception in the Royal School Armagh held to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the five Royal Schools of Ulster. |
| Her Majesty met the headmasters and chairmen of the five schools and about 130 guests. | Her Majesty met the headmasters and chairmen of the five schools and about 130 guests. |