‘Not our King’ graffiti sprayed on cathedral in Wales ahead of Charles visit
Shropshire churchgoers are expected at the service today
Graffiti saying “Not our King” has been covered up at a cathedral in North Wales just hours before Charles is due to attend an Easter service.
The message was sprayed in red paint on a wall in the grounds of St Asaph Cathedral where the Royal Maundy service is being held in Wales for only the second time in its history.
Read more: Shropshire churchgoers among those receiving traditional Maundy Money from the King today
The King and Queen are due to attend the service, where Charles will present gifts to 77 men and 77 women from Wales and other dioceses across the UK including Shropshire in recognition of outstanding Christian service and for helping people in their communities.
Workers in hi-vis jackets were seen attempting to remove the paint on Thursday before the King’s arrival later in the morning.
The first recorded Royal Maundy service was held in 1210 by King John and commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, with the distribution of alms becoming a tradition.
Charles will give recipients two purses – a white purse including a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins totalling 77 pennies, to match the King’s age, and a red purse containing a £5 coin marking 100 years since the late Queen’s birth and a 50p coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust charity.
The King is traditionally assisted in distributing the Maundy Money by the Lord High Almoner, currently the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham Usher.
This year’s service is the first held in Wales since 1982 and will feature specially commissioned music by Welsh composers and musicians to mark the occasion.