THE Queen is to visit Derby to perform an ancient royal ceremony on its 800th anniversary.

She will be at the city's cathedral on April 1 to distribute Maundy Money – a tradition dating back to King John in 1210.

The visit, seen as a major honour for the city, will be the Queen's first trip to Derby for seven years.

The Bishop of Derby, Dr Alastair Redfern, said: "It is wonderful that the Queen is coming to Derby and I know that we will give her a very warm welcome indeed."

The traditional ceremony will be held on Maundy Thursday – which commemorates the Last Supper – during Easter week. Purses of money will be given by the monarch to 168 pensioners in recognition of their services to the community and Church.

The number of people receiving gifts has been chosen to coincide with the Queen's age, so purses will be given to 84 men and 84 women, all aged 70 or over.

Dr Redfern said the diocese of Derby and the cathedral were working closely with Buckingham Palace to put the finishing touches to the service and that he was greatly looking forward to it.

"It is a delight and honour for all of us in Derby and the wider county of Derbyshire that Her Majesty will distribute the royal Maundy Money during Holy Week."

A Palace spokeswoman confirmed the visit would be taking place and said more details would be revealed nearer the time.

Since undertaking her first official engagement at the age of 15, the Queen has paid seven visits to Derby. The first was in 1949 when she officially opened the Council House and also visited Darley Park and Royal Crown Derby.

At that time Prince Charles was just six months old and she was still a princess. Her last visit was in 2003 to officially open the cathedral's new £1.25m visitor centre.

She also came the year before that during her Golden Jubilee when a 27,000-strong crowd greeted her at Pride Park.

Her other visits included one in 1957, her first visit as sovereign, when she was greeted by more than 22,000 children at Sudbury station.

And she came in 1977 to bestow city status on Derby; in 1992 to officially open Carsington Reservoir and the newly-refurbished Queen's Leisure Centre; and in 1997 to open Pride Park Stadium.