Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 28, 2024

Royal Maundy is a religious service in the Church of England held on Maundy Thursday. At the service, the British monarch or a royal official distributes small silver coins known as "Maundy money". The name "Maundy" and the ceremony derive from the instruction of Jesus at the Last Supper that his followers should love one another. English monarchs washed the feet of beggars in imitation of Jesus, and gave to the poor; the latter custom survives through the Maundy gifts. Recipients were once chosen for their poverty, but are now chosen for service to their churches or communities. At the 2024 service at Worcester Cathedral, the distribution was made by Queen Camilla in place of her husband, Charles III, following his diagnosis of cancer. The coins' obverse design features the reigning monarch, while the reverse design features a crowned numeral enclosed by a wreath. In most years there are fewer than 2,000 complete sets of Maundy money; they are highly sought after by collectors.