NEWSQueen Elizabeth Turns 85 Today on Maundy Thursday!
April 21 2011, Published 11:20 a.m. ET
Queen Elizabeth turns 85 today! But instead of receiving presents for herself, Elizabeth is passing out presents to others. For the first time, Maundy Thursday — the day marking Jesus' last supper — coincides with Elizabeth's birthday, and she traditionally passes out specials coins to the same number of men and women as her age.
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Elizabeth passed out two coin purses to 85 men and 85 women during a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, NPR reports.
A red coin purse contained a 5 pound ($8) coin commemorating the 90th birthday of her husband, Prince Philip, and a 50 pence coin marking the 2012 London Olympic Games. The second coin purse, a white one, contained specially minted Maundy money with 1, 2, 3 and 4 pence pieces.
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The ceremony reportedly served as a dry run for the big wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, coming up on April 29!
Happy 85th birthday, Queen Elizabeth!
