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| The Queen hands out Maundy money | The Queen hands out Maundy money |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Queen has celebrated her 85th birthday by handing out Maundy money in a traditional royal service at Westminster Abbey. | The Queen has celebrated her 85th birthday by handing out Maundy money in a traditional royal service at Westminster Abbey. |
| The monarch handed out specially minted coins to deserving recipients in a ceremony dating from the Middle Ages. | The monarch handed out specially minted coins to deserving recipients in a ceremony dating from the Middle Ages. |
| Among the 170 people - 85 men and 85 women - who received Maundy money this year were 40 from the Isle of Man. | Among the 170 people - 85 men and 85 women - who received Maundy money this year were 40 from the Isle of Man. |
| Buckingham Palace said it was the first time the Queen's birthday had fallen on Maundy Thursday. | Buckingham Palace said it was the first time the Queen's birthday had fallen on Maundy Thursday. |
| 'Big adventure' | 'Big adventure' |
| Each year the Queen chooses a different church to distribute the coins, known as Maundy money. | |
| This year the venue was the abbey, which will also host the wedding of the Queen's grandson, Prince William, to Kate Middleton, on 29 April. | This year the venue was the abbey, which will also host the wedding of the Queen's grandson, Prince William, to Kate Middleton, on 29 April. |
| When the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at the abbey's Great West Door, a trumpet fanfare was sounded. | When the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at the abbey's Great West Door, a trumpet fanfare was sounded. |
| The Queen and the duke were presented with the traditional nosegays of sweet herbs as they walked inside. | The Queen and the duke were presented with the traditional nosegays of sweet herbs as they walked inside. |
| The royal couple and a series of colourful processions featuring musicians, senior clergy and delegations from the two dioceses involved then made their way through the nave into the heart of the church. | The royal couple and a series of colourful processions featuring musicians, senior clergy and delegations from the two dioceses involved then made their way through the nave into the heart of the church. |
| The groups were joined by members of the Royal Almonry - an office within the Royal Household which enables the monarch to distribute alms. | The groups were joined by members of the Royal Almonry - an office within the Royal Household which enables the monarch to distribute alms. |
| The service began with the 19th century hymn Praise To The Holiest In The Height and was followed by a series of prayers. | The service began with the 19th century hymn Praise To The Holiest In The Height and was followed by a series of prayers. |
| The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Robert Patterson - whose district is one of the ancient Celtic dioceses of the British Isles - gave the first lesson, reading the passage from the book of John which describes Jesus washing the feet of his followers. | The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Robert Patterson - whose district is one of the ancient Celtic dioceses of the British Isles - gave the first lesson, reading the passage from the book of John which describes Jesus washing the feet of his followers. |
| Afterwards the Queen handed out red and white purses - bourne on trays held by a Yeoman of the Guard - in the centuries-old tradition. | Afterwards the Queen handed out red and white purses - bourne on trays held by a Yeoman of the Guard - in the centuries-old tradition. |
| The red purse contained a £5 coin commemorating the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday in June, and a 50p coin marking the 2012 London Olympic Games. | The red purse contained a £5 coin commemorating the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday in June, and a 50p coin marking the 2012 London Olympic Games. |
| The white purse held uniquely minted Maundy money made up of silver one, two, three and four penny pieces, the sum of which added up to the Queen's age. | The white purse held uniquely minted Maundy money made up of silver one, two, three and four penny pieces, the sum of which added up to the Queen's age. |
| One of this year's recipients was Dorothy Boyde, 75, who had never left the Isle of Man before. | One of this year's recipients was Dorothy Boyde, 75, who had never left the Isle of Man before. |
| She told the BBC: "I wouldn't go for anything else. It's a big adventure." | She told the BBC: "I wouldn't go for anything else. It's a big adventure." |
| Two birthdays | Two birthdays |
| Another recipient, Henry Hely-Hutchinson, 85, from Chelsea - who was nominated for his voluntary work as a guide at the abbey - said he was "proud" to be part of the ancient ceremony. | Another recipient, Henry Hely-Hutchinson, 85, from Chelsea - who was nominated for his voluntary work as a guide at the abbey - said he was "proud" to be part of the ancient ceremony. |
| The Duke read the second lesson from the book of Matthew about how "the son of man" will pass judgment on the good and bad - before the Queen presented the remaining money. | The Duke read the second lesson from the book of Matthew about how "the son of man" will pass judgment on the good and bad - before the Queen presented the remaining money. |
| Usually the recipients of the symbolic alms - one for each year of the monarch's life - are drawn from the same diocese as the cathedral the Queen visits. | Usually the recipients of the symbolic alms - one for each year of the monarch's life - are drawn from the same diocese as the cathedral the Queen visits. |
| The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Robert Patterson, suggested to the Queen several months ago that she visit Douglas. | The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Robert Patterson, suggested to the Queen several months ago that she visit Douglas. |
| However Buckingham Palace decided it was too difficult for the Queen to visit the island, but said Manx residents could be nominated for the honour this year. | However Buckingham Palace decided it was too difficult for the Queen to visit the island, but said Manx residents could be nominated for the honour this year. |
| Also nominated were people from the Anglican Diocese of Europe, which is based in Gibraltar. | Also nominated were people from the Anglican Diocese of Europe, which is based in Gibraltar. |
| The Maundy Service was seen as a chance to iron out any technical issues ahead of next week's royal wedding - which will also be broadcast live from Westminster Abbey. | The Maundy Service was seen as a chance to iron out any technical issues ahead of next week's royal wedding - which will also be broadcast live from Westminster Abbey. |
| Formal consent | Formal consent |
| The Queen has two birthdays - the actual one and the official one in June, which is celebrated with the Trooping the Colour parade. | The Queen has two birthdays - the actual one and the official one in June, which is celebrated with the Trooping the Colour parade. |
| On Thursday Union flags are being flown above government buildings from 0800 BST until sunset, and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery gave a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park. | On Thursday Union flags are being flown above government buildings from 0800 BST until sunset, and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery gave a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park. |
| The Honourable Artillery Company also fired a 62-gun tribute from Gun Wharf at the Tower of London. | The Honourable Artillery Company also fired a 62-gun tribute from Gun Wharf at the Tower of London. |
| Meanwhile, the Queen has given her formal consent to the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton under the historic Great Seal of the Realm. | Meanwhile, the Queen has given her formal consent to the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton under the historic Great Seal of the Realm. |
| She signed a notice of approval - in transcribed calligraphy - giving consent to the union, without which the marriage would be invalid. | She signed a notice of approval - in transcribed calligraphy - giving consent to the union, without which the marriage would be invalid. |
| William had to ask his grandmother's consent under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, which states that descendants of George II must have the monarch's agreement to make the marriage lawful. | William had to ask his grandmother's consent under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, which states that descendants of George II must have the monarch's agreement to make the marriage lawful. |
| The Archbishop of Canterbury has also wished royal couple the "courage and clarity" he says they will need to get married in the public eye. | The Archbishop of Canterbury has also wished royal couple the "courage and clarity" he says they will need to get married in the public eye. |