Whitby Chef to cater for King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla after York Maundy Service

It happens each year on the Thursday before Easter Sunday

Author: Karen LiuPublished 6th Apr 2023

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will attend the annual Royal Maundy Service in York today.

It happens each year on the Thursday before Easter Sunday and this will be the first for the Monarch since his late mother Queen Elizabeth died.

Their Majesties will be hosted by York Minster.

Vicar Richard Walker is from St. Mary's Holy Apostles Church in Scarborough which is part of the Diocese of York. He said: "It's a celebration of who Jesus is for us and his work of showing how much he loves us. He basically washed the disciples' feet so there's a sense of him being a servant to his disciples in that last supper in the upper room on Maundy Thursday.

"I think it's a lovely gesture. Generally speaking Maundy is distributed within the cathedrals down in London but the Queen has traditionally come up North and been to various different cathedrals during her reign.

"For the King to come on his first year of being ascended to the throne I think is a wonderful gesture and it shows something of his heart for the North and for this amazing cathedral. York Minster is a splendid place to do that.

"The last time the Queen was here at York Minster, she walked amongst people so that she wasn't only distributing Maundy money to the people that have been elected for that. It would be lovely if that would be to the case as well so people get to see the King and not just the people that are going to receive the money."

After the Royal service, they will then be offered refreshments and drinks at the newly opened Refectory in York.

Andrew Perm, who is from Whitby, is in charge of catering there and said: "We've got coronation crab which is from Whitby, we're going to do a King's platter, York hams, Wensleydale cheeses and all the things that we're sort of known for like Yorkshire rhubarb and different guises.

"It will be fantastic. We always fly the white rose flag for Yorkshire, that's where our sort of food and provenance comes from. Some of the ingredients within the canapes and offer of the whole menu is very much Yorkshire-centric.

"It's amazing. I mean to have the honour to open a place in such a brilliant location is fantastic, and then obviously with the added bonus of King Charles III come along as our first guest and to open it with the Queen Consort as well is unbelievable really."

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.