MAUNDY money was gifted to an Oxfam volunteer for her years of service to the community.
Hazel Nandy, 80, has volunteered at Oxfam in Hexham for 40 years.
Originally from Newcastle, she was a secondary school teacher at Walbottle High School before she left teaching in 1989.
Hazel found out she had been nominated to receive Maundy money when she got a letter postmarked from Buckingham Palace.
She said: "I was very excited, very honoured and very surprised."
Maundy money is the silver coins issued by British monarchs on Maundy Thursday, as part of the Royal Maundy ceremony, to pensioners recommended by clergy and ministers.
The traditional Easter event, held on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, celebrates people recognised for their services to the church or to the local community.
King Charles III presented the money for the first time as monarch in York Minster on April 6, to 148 individuals recognised for their service. Seventy-four men and 74 women, signifying the age of the monarch, were presented with the money.
Last year, Charles represented his mother Queen Elizabeth II, who withdrew from the service because of mobility problems.
"It was a huge surprise and I was very excited," Hazel said.
"It was the most wonderful day and it will never be forgotten. The King was absolutely amazing in the way he spoke to everyone, it was very special."
The Queen Consort also attended.
Hazel's daughter Rachel lives in London and she travelled to meet her in York.
Hazel does not know who nominated her. She said the King said the Maundy money was in recognition of many years of service, so Hazel believes it was for volunteering in Oxfam for decades.
"Each person was given two leather purses, a red one and a white one. The red one had a commemorative coin for the King's 75th birthday and a Windrush memorial coin.
"The white leather one has the Maundy money, which are tiny silver coins encased in holders."
The coins are specially minted and those in the white purse are equivalent in value in pence to the King's age.
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