The Royal Maundy Service will be held in St George’s Chapel in Windsor this year - as the Queen continues a tradition that began in the 15th century by handing out small silver coins in leather purses to 186 men and women from across the country.

The service was previously held at St George's in 2016 - the year of the Queen's 90th birthday - and in 2018.

Royal Maundy is a religious service at which the monarch or a royal official ceremonially distributes the Maundy money - small silver coins as symbolic alms to elderly recipients.

The coins are legal tender but do not circulate because of their silver content and collectible value.

Nowadays recipients are chosen for service to their churches or communities, on the recommendation of clergymen of various Christian denominations.

Following the Maundy service the Queen will spend the Easter weekend in Windsor as she traditionally does - attending Sunday service at St George's Chapel with her family, an occasion that invariably draws large crowds gathered to watch the royals proceed to church.

This year is special, as the Queen's 93rd birthday actually falls on Easter Sunday.

The Queen will receive a bouquet of flowers from local children, who also attended the church service.

Her birthday will also be marked by gun salutes in Hyde Park and the Tower of London - with a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park near Cambridge Gate.