The finale of Her Majesty's three-day visit was a landmark Maundy Thursday ceremony in Armagh yesterday - the first time it has been held outside England and Wales in 700 years.

The leaders of the four main Churches joined together in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh for the event - the first time it has been held outside England and Wales in 700 years.

Gifts

Her Majesty handed out 82p in special 1p, 2p, 3p and 4p sterling silver coins – a penny for each year of her life – to 164 pensioners from across the Province.

Her gifts, in red and white purses with ribbons, were carried on a silver platter by the Queen's yeomen, who bore ceremonial swords and wore red uniforms, hats with ribbons and traditional oversized white collars.

Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty was welcomed to the Cathedral by Archbishop of Armagh Alan Harper, resplendent in golden vestments, on the final leg of her three-day visit.

Pensioners who were being recognised for community work were selected to be handed the specially minted Maundy money during a cross-community service in St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.

Commandment

The term "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment, and is derived from the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples before his crucifixion, that they they were to love one another as he had loved them.

There are records of the Royal tradition on Maundy Thursday in Holy Week dating back to the 12th century.

During the service the Queen handed out coins to 82 men and 82 women, all retired, who had been selected by the four main denominations in Northern Ireland for service to the community.

She also presented them with a separate bag containing a 50 pence piece and a £5 coin to commemorate Prince Charles's birthday.

Tradition

Before Her Majesty arrived over a dozen Yeomen of the Queen's Body Guard marched into the cathedral in traditional red jackets, black hats with red, white and blue ribbons and ceremonial pikes.

The Queen and Duke were greeted at the entrance of the cathedral by the Archbishop of Armagh, the Reverend Alan Harper, resplendent in golden vestments.

The Very Rev Patrick Rooke, Dean of Armagh, led the prayers, while Roman Catholic Primate Cardinal Sean Brady and the Duke of Edinburgh gave Bible readings on the build up to Christ's crucifixion.

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr John Finlay, and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev Roy Cooper, also said prayers.

Multi-denominational

Also present were representatives of the Jewish, Muslim and Hindu faiths, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and Armagh Mayor Charles Rollston.

Four children, one each from Church of Ireland, controlled, Roman Catholic and integrated schools in Armagh, were selected to play a symbolic part in the service, wearing linen towels in remembrance of times when the monarch washed the feet of the congregation.

The massive dimensions of the cathedral inside combined with elegant choreography, traditional costumes and majestic choirs and musicians blended in a grandeur worthy of a monarch.

Trumpeted

The choirs of Her Majesty's Chapels Royal and St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh were accompanied by red-blazered trumpeters.

During hymns the Queen was escorted in procession down the aisles by clerics and yeomen, who passed small leather bags of coins to her to present to recipients as she shook their hands.

The Queen was then seated at the front of the cathedral while the choir sang a prayer containing the words "O Lord Save the Queen".

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