Friday, April 22, 2011

"Queen Elizabeth Celebrates 85th Birthday, Hands Out Bags of Money"

From the Time newsfeed:
Move over Kate Middleton. Today is all about Her Majesty the Queen.
Thursday afternoon, Elizabeth, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, will conduct the Church of England's Maundy Services in Westminster Abbey. To mark Maundy Thursday—the day before Good Friday—she'll distribute small bags of money to 85 male and 85 female retirees—one for each of her 85 years. The symbolic alms come in either a red or white purse. The former includes a £5 coin commemorating the Prince Philip's 90th birthday in June, and a 50-pence coin marking the 2012 London Olympic Games. The latter is stuffed with Maundy Money of silver coins, minted especially for the occasion, in one, two, three and four penny denominations. They various coins add up to the Queen's age....MORE