Queen Camilla prepares to lead Royal Family at special Maundy Thursday service

Queen Camilla is preparing to arrive at Worcester Cathedral to lead the Royal Family at the annual Royal Maundy service today. She will be representing King Charles, who is unable to attend due to his ongoing cancer treatment.

Today marks a significant event for Camilla who will distribute the Maundy money in the city's cathedral.

It will be the first time a consort has done this on behalf of the monarch as when the late Queen Elizabeth could not attend Maundy services, she was represented by the then Prince of Wales, her mother Queen Elizabeth and her aunt Princess Mary, but not by Prince Philip.

Anti-monarchy group Republic are already outside the cathedral, where they will be protesting Camilla's visit with their large yellow placards reading: "Not my Queen." 

Graham Smith, chief executive of the group, said on Wednesday: "Unlike royalists, we don't conflate the family with the institution. It's the institution we're protesting against this week. This is a campaign about principles, politics and reform."

He added: "Republic's campaign continues unabated and the protests will continue for as long as the monarchy is there."

During today's service, King Charles will stress the importance of friendship "especially in a time of need" in a pre-recorded message which will be broadcast in his absence - his first since Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis announcement.

Charles will say how Jesus set an "example of how we should serve and care for each other", and how as a nation "we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need".

While the King does not directly refer to his and his daughter-in-law's health, his words will be interpreted as reflecting on the nation's response to his and Kate's challenges as they continue treatment for cancer.

The Royal Maundy service is a major fixture on the royal calendar and it commemorates Jesus's Last Supper when he washed the feet of his disciples as an act of humility the day before Good Friday.

It is usually lead by the monarch, who is the head of the Church of England, who presents specially minted coins to people recognised for their community service. 

Today sovereigns no longer wash the feet of the needy as they did in medieval times but 75 women and 75 men - signifying the King's age - will be presented with two purses, one red and one white, filled with Maundy money.

The red purse contains a small gift of ordinary coins totalling £5.50: £3 in lieu of clothing, £1.50 in place of food and £1 representing money for redemption of the monarch's gown. 

This year the Red Purse contains a £5 coin which features the image of a Tudor Dragon, and a 50p coin commemorating the R.N.L.I. (which is celebrating its 200th anniversary).

The white purse contains 75p in silver Maundy coins, amounting to the same number of pence as the years of the sovereign’s age including the one he is now living.

The Maundy Money ceremony began in 1662 when Charles II gave out coins.