The annual Maundy Thursday marks an important date in Her Majesty the Queen’s calendar as she each year visits a different cathedral and attends their service.
This year, Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh came to grace Leicester cathedral with their presence where they were greeted by Dean David Monteith and the Bishop of Leicester the Rt Rev Martyn Snow.
Being the only Anglican cathedral in the whole of England that the Monarch had not yet visited, only built up the anticipation even more among the crowds in Leicester.
The Maundy Money was this year given to 91 men and 91 women from the local community, the number represented Her Majesty the Queen turning 91-years-old later this year.
The Queen’s last visit the city in 2012, formed part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, also helped create excitement and people from all parts of Leicestershire came to pay their respect and show appreciation to the Monarch.
An estimated 16,000 people lined the route to welcome her to the city. Spectators of all ages started to gather at the clock tower and in the Jubilee Square hours before the ceremony started to get a glance of the royal convoy that was making its way through Leicester earlier this morning.
Many people excitedly waved union flags and some wore royal-themed fancy dress. Large screens were positioned at the Clock Tower and Jubilee Square for the crowds to watch the hour-long service broadcast live from inside the Cathedral.
Her Majesty and Prince Phillip arrived just before eleven o’clock. Wearing a vibrant teal coat and matching hat, Her Majesty spoke to spectators and accepted bouquets of flowers before making her way into the Cathedral.
An organ and trumpets played as Her Majesty entered the Cathedral for the Maundy Thursday service.
The highly anticipated event was covered by various news channels and news agencies from all over the country who all tried to capture the moment of the Queen entering and leaving the Cathedral.
After the ceremony, Her Majesty made her way through the buzzing crowd outside Leicester cathedral to St Martins House where Leicester local, Engelbert Humperdinck was said to be joining her and the Duke of Edinburgh for lunch.
By Sophie Sandberg
