The Queen visited York to distribute Maundy Money at the Minster on April 5, 2012.

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Tel: 01274 705248

The main coverage (and pictures) of the visit were featured in the newspaper printed on Friday, April 6.

The Queen of Hearts supplement was published on Saturday, April 7.

What is Maundy money?

In total 172 people have been invited to receive the specially minted coins, known as Maundy money, from the Queen at the traditional service at York Minster in April.

Eighty-six men and 86 women, one for each year the Queen has been alive, have been nominated by the church, many from within the diocese of York, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said.

Every year at Easter, the Queen presents Maundy Money to pensioners in a UK cathedral or abbey, in recognition of their service to their community and church.

The tradition of the Sovereign giving money to the poor dates from the 13th century, when the monarch also gave food and clothing, and even washed the recipients’ feet, but that tradition died out after James II.

Since the 15th century, the number of Maundy coins handed out, and the number of people receiving them, has been related to the sovereign’s age, so there were 85 male and 85 female recipients at Westminster Abbey last year, who received a white purse containing 85p in Maundy coins and a red purse containing a £5 coin and a 50p piece.

The coins have remained in much the same form since 1670, traditionally struck in sterling silver.

While the Queen’s face on ordinary coins has changed three times, Maundy coins still bear the portrait from the year of her coronation in 1953.

The Queen has also attended Maundy services elsewhere in North Yorkshire: at Selby Abbey in 1969, and at Ripon Cathedral in 1985.

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The Queen's day in York

10.30am: The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice to arrive at York train station.

10.50am - Micklegate Bar: The royal party are due to be greeted by a civic party led by the City of York Council’s chief executive, Kersten England, and will walk through the city’s traditional entrance at Micklegate Bar. They will then be driven along Micklegate on a clearly barriered route between there and York Minster.

10.55am - York Minster: The royal party is due to arrive at the Minster where they will attend the Royal Maundy service. The Queen will distribute Maundy money at the service to 86 men and 86 women as part of an annual Easter tradition. The party will leave from the Great West Door.

1pm - Mansion House: The royal party is due to arrive for a private, invitation-only, meal at the Mansion House. This will be attended by the civic party, winners of The Press Community Pride Awards and other local figures including the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and the leaders of York’s political parties.

2.30pm - Yorkshire Museum: The royal party is due to arrive at the Yorkshire Museum, where they will see the exhibition "1212: Making of the City", which marks the 800th anniversary of York becoming a self-governing city.