Queen's sweet Easter gift tradition revealed ahead of 96th birthday

The Queen participates in a special gift-giving tradition every Easter  - and it's looking like this year will be no different.

• The Queen will show off her generous side this Easter by participating in a gift-giving service for older members of the Church of England. 
• Every Maundy Thursday, Her Majesty presents special coins to Christian people across the UK as a thank you for their contribution to their local communities. 
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s ‘equal respect’ a sign the monarchy is in safe hands, claims expert.
  

The Queen will show off her generous spirit with a touching gift-giving tradition this Easter, just one week before she celebrates her 96th birthday on 21 April. 

For the past seven decades, Her Majesty has recognized the contribution of older members of the Church of England to their community by presenting them with symbolic coins on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday.  

The monarch typically visits different cathedrals around the UK for the religious service, which was held annually in Westminster Abbey until 1957. 

The silver mint pennies - known as Maundy Money - are wrapped in two leather purses, one of which contains coins that equate to the Queen's age and the other containing a £5 and 50p coin. The currency is technically legal tender but is rarely ever spent by recipients due to its sentimental value. 

Unfortunately, Her Majesty was forced to scrap her Royal Maundy service for the past two years in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She instead posted the jingly gifts to the 190 recipients she had planned to meet, along with a letter expressing regret over the event's cancellation. 

It remains unknown if this year's Royal Maundy service, which falls on 14 April, will go ahead. 

While Covid restrictions are no longer in place, the Queen's health woes has been a source of widespread concern ever since her overnight hospitalization in October 2021. 

Her attendance at Prince Philip's memorial service at Westminster Abbey last month was also shrouded in speculation, as some royal experts predicted the Queen may need a wheelchair to enter the historic church. 

If the event does happen, it's very likely it will take place at a location nearby Her Majesty's permanent residence of Windsor Castle. 

The Queen will also enjoy a treat for herself on the final day of the upcoming Holy Week, as she marks the end of Lent on Easter Sunday. 

According to former royal chef, Darren McGrady, Her Majesty gives up chocolate every year for 40 days in remembrance of Jesus Christ's sacrifices for his followers. It's custom for the great-grandmother to break Lent by tucking into a box of Bendicks Bittermints, which are also shared with the other members of the royal household.