Maundy Thursday

King Charles deputised for his mother at last year's Maundy Thursday service, and will lead it as monarch for the first time in 2023.

[King Charles ](https://inews.co.uk/topic/king-charles-iii?ico=in-line_link)stepped in to in place of his mother last year due to her mobility problems, and will now perform the duty as head of state for the first time. [Camilla, the Queen Consort](https://inews.co.uk/news/queen-consort-what-mean-meaning-camilla-new-title-will-kate-explained-1863723?ico=in-line_link). [Jesus ](https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/jesus-when-born-christ-birth-date-christmas-2019-nativity-explained-378699?ico=in-line_link)washed the feet of his disciples, much to their discomfort – a [Christian ](https://inews.co.uk/topic/christianity?ico=in-line_link)rite known as “Maundy”. [Pascha (or Passover) full moon](https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/when-is-passover-2021-dates-for-the-jewish-holiday-of-pesach-and-the-meaning-behind-it-927807?ico=in-line_link), the [first to appear ](https://inews.co.uk/news/science/march-full-moon-2021-when-date-time-worm-supermoon-names-explained-931570?ico=in-line_link)after [the Spring Equinox](https://inews.co.uk/news/science/spring-equinox-2021-when-date-vernal-meaning-first-day-explained-917634?ico=in-line_link). [the accession of her son, King Charles III](https://inews.co.uk/news/prince-charles-king-now-accession-process-explained-queen-death-when-coronation-date-1310209?ico=in-line_link). [the tradition of the monarch offering “alms”](https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/maundy-thursday-2019-meaning-when-date-queen-money-easter-holy-week-281274?ico=in-line_link) to deserving senior citizens on the day, distributing commemorative “Maundy money”. His performing of the Maundy – to an uncomfortable reaction from his followers – was therefore a demonstration of humility and an entreaty for his disciples to always treat each other as equals. Some priests wash the feet of church attendees on the date as part of their service, as a reminder of Jesus’s actions. Maundy Thursday commemorates the biblical story of the Last Supper, when [the day before Good Friday](https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/good-friday-2021-when-bank-holiday-uk-date-easter-meaning-926886?ico=in-line_link), and three days before [Easter Sunday](https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/easter-2021-when-date-bank-holidays-why-change-year-explained-416350?ico=in-line_link), with the date changing accordingly each year. [Maundy Thursday](https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/maundy-thursday-2019-meaning-when-date-queen-money-easter-holy-week-281274?ico=in-line_link) falls on Thursday 5 April – it can be any date between 19 March and 22 April. [Maundy Thursday](https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/maundy-thursday-2019-meaning-when-date-queen-money-easter-holy-week-281274?ico=in-line_link) is one of the key Christian observances in the Holy Week of Easter.