The Royal Maundy service, which dates back at least eight centuries, is taking place in the magnificent setting of Gloucester Cathedral for the first time on Thursday April 17. The centuries-old ceremony was last held in the county at Tewkesbury Abbey in 1971, the 850th anniversary of the abbey's consecration. What is Maundy Thursday?
The name Maundy originates from the Latin word 'mandatum' or commandment - and commemorates Jesus Christ's commandment to his disciples at the Last Supper, to love one another.
>>More about Maundy Thursday  The Queen and the Royal Maundy
The Royal Maundy is one of the oldest royal ceremonies of distributing coins to subjects. The Queen has attended a Maundy service every year since 1971, and on all but four occasions since she came to the throne in 1952.
>>More about the Royal Maundy
The Maundy gifts
A total of 154 senior citizens from Gloucestershire (77 men and 77 women - one of each sex for each year of the Queen's age) will be handed gifts of specially-minted Maundy money by the Queen.
>>More about the Maundy gifts The Maundy ceremony
The Maundy can be traced back in England with certainty to the 12th century, and there are continuous records of the Distribution having been made on Maundy Thursday from the reign of King Edward I.
>>More about the ceremony  Royal visit timetable
Big crowds are expected in the city centre on Thursday for the Queen's visit.
>>Find out where you can see her
Royal visit road closures
How the Queen's visit will affect traffic and transport in Gloucester city centre.  Gloucester Cathedral
The history of one of Britain's greatest architectural glories, the Harry Potter connection and the link with the American national anthem. Take our photo tour of the jewel in Gloucester's crown.
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The Queen will attend the Maundy service at Gloucester Cathedral on April 17
