Dodgy hip forces Prince Philip to pull out of centuries-old service

A bad hip has kept Prince Philip away from a meaningful church service has long been his tradition to attend.

Instead, Queen Elizabeth was alone at the annual Maundy Service, a centuries-old event that honours senior citizens, retirees and pensioners in recognition of their service to the community.

Her husband had been due to attend the Thursday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle but reportedly was forced to pull out due to a problem with his hip. It’s not thought to be serious, however, as he was seen driving in Windsor Great Park near the castle on Wednesday, the media reports said.

Prince Philip, 96, officially retired from public duties last year but the palace said at the time that his decision to step back from official royal duties wasn’t related to ill-health, and he still attends events with the Queen on occasion.

According to numerous reports, Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the prince’s health but said that the order of service had been printed weeks ago when he hoped to attend but had since decided against it.

The Maundy Service is traditionally held on Maundy Thursday, the day on which Christians mark the start of Easter because it’s thought to be when Jesus had the last supper with his disciples.

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In keeping with the Christian belief that at the last supper, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, until the late 1600s the British ruler washed the feet of poor citizens at the Maundy Service. Although that’s no longer the practice, Queen Elizabeth hands out ceremonial purses of ‘Maundy money’ that is minted specifically for that purpose.

The Telegraph reported that this year, 92 men and 92 women – a nod to the Queen’s 92^nd birthday – were chosen by their local clergy to receive two purses in red and white, containing money with particular meanings: A £5 (AU$9.13, US$7) coin commemorating four generations of royalty, a 50-pence coin marking a 1918 electoral reform, and newly-minted silver pennies to the value of 92 pence.

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The Queen looked in excellent form during the service, wrapped up in a snug blue coat and matching black-trimmed hat, with a lovely bouquet in her hands.

The same chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle will be in the focus of the world’s cameras in May, when it will host the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Do you have hip trouble? Does it stop you getting out and about as much as you’d like?