Prince Charles Records Easter Day Reading for Westminster Abbey's New Podcast
After recovering from COVID-19, Prince Charles is currently self-isolating alongside his wife Camilla at Birkhall, the couple's home on the Queen's Scottish estate. But the Prince of Wales is still finding ways to keep up with his royal duties, even from a distance.
On Easter, that'll take the form of a podcast from Westminster Abbey—a new initiative for the church, launched after social distancing guidelines forced the Abbey to close for public worship. Earlier this week, Charles recorded a gospel reading—John 20: 1-18, to be exact—that will be released at 9 a.m. GMT on Easter Day in the Abbey's podcast feed. The Prince's recording will also be included in an Easter Day Eucharist released by Canterbury Cathedral.
Charles isn't the only royal who has found a way to celebrate Easter from afar. Queen Elizabeth will also be marking the occasion remotely, after the annual Maundy Thursday service was canceled due to the pandemic. Like every other year, the Queen will give pensioners from around the UK commemorative, specially-minted money—but this time, it'll come in the mail.
Buckingham Palace announced the news on the morning of Maundy Thursday, and revealed a letter the Queen had written to accompany the Maundy Gifts. "It is one of my most rewarding duties as Sovereign to observe this highly significant ceremony at such an important point in the Christian calendar," the British monarch writes. "I know that you, as a Recipient of this year’s Maundy Gift, will be as deeply disappointed as I am that it is not going ahead, while understanding the necessary decision in the current circumstances."
The Queen continues, "However, this should not mean your invaluable contribution within the community goes unnoticed, and I am sending this Maundy Gift to thank you for your Christian service."
This year, in the current circumstances, the traditional service could not go ahead in its usual form.
Instead, the Maundy purses and coins were blessed at the Chapel Royal, before being posted to recipients alongside a personal letter from Her Majesty. pic.twitter.com/s6ce7xH8Tu— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 9, 2020
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