The Queen has stepped down from Royal Maundy church service and will be represented for the first time by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, at the annual event.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will keep the ancient tradition of handing out Maundy money to prominent figures in the community on Thursday at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The announcement came as Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen, who has struggled with health issues in recent months, will not be attending the event.
It is understood the monarch was keen for arrangements to be confirmed before the service order was printed to avoid any misunderstandings or distractions on the day.
The Queen, 95, attended Prince Philip’s memorial service last week despite having mobility issues, but it was unclear until the morning of the event whether she would be there.
However, her appearance was overshadowed by the decision to be escorted by Prince Andrew, in what was the disgraced royal’s first public appearance since the sexual assault case against him was settled.
She traveled from Windsor with Andrew, who escorted her to Westminster Abbey, offering her his elbow as she moved with the aid of a cane. The ceremony was held to mark one year since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
On four occasions, a member of the Royal Family replaced the Queen in Royal Maundy service.
Lord High Almoner, Michael Gresford Jones, Bishop of St Albans, represented the Queen in 1954, and six years later the Queen Mother replaced her daughter who had given birth to the Duke of York two months earlier.
In 1964 the Earl of Wessex’s birth in March meant the Queen’s role was filled by his aunt Princess Mary and in 1970 the Queen Mother distributed Maundy’s money on behalf of the Queen who was on tour in New -Zeeland.
PA Media contributed to this report