Maintenance crews have been forced to conduct an emergency clean-up at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales after anti-monarchy graffiti was discovered on the grounds just hours before a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The message 'Not our King' was found sprayed in red paint on a perimeter wall of the cathedral in Denbighshire, where the historic Royal Maundy service is being held today. Workers in high-visibility jackets were seen scrubbing the site on Thursday morning to ensure the grounds were clear before the Royal motorcade arrived.
The incident comes as the cathedral hosts the Maundy service in Wales for only the second time in its history, marking a rare occasion for the ancient tradition to take place outside of England. The King and Queen are attending the service to present ceremonial gifts to 77 men and 77 women from Wales and other UK dioceses, chosen in recognition of their outstanding Christian service and contributions to their local communities.
The Royal Maundy is a tradition dating back to 1210, established by King John to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. During the ceremony, Charles will present each recipient with two distinct leather purses: a white purse containing a set of silver Maundy coins totalling 77 pennies, and a red purse holding two commemorative coins—a £5 piece marking 100 years since the birth of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and a 50p coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust.
Today's event is the first time the service has been held in Wales since 1982. To mark the significance of the location, the ceremony features a programme of specially commissioned music by Welsh composers and performances by local musicians. Despite the early morning disruption by protesters, the service is proceeding as planned as part of the Easter Holy Week commemorations.
