THE final preparations are being made to ready York Minster for the arrival of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice on Thursday.

A team of about 60 people are hard at work transforming the cathedral – moving and polishing furniture, setting out candles and organising seating plans before floral decorations are brought in ahead of the visit.

The altar in the Nave is being moved back under the central tower to accommodate the huge congregation of 1,800 people due to attend the annual Maundy service, while the Minster Choir, which will perform alongside the Chapel Royal Choir, is holding last-minute practice. The royal party is due to attend the service during which the Queen will distribute Maundy money to 86 men and 86 women – one for each year of the monarch’s life – as part of a long-standing Easter tradition.

The Rev Canon Glyn Webster, chancellor of York Minster, said: “It’s a huge day and these are just the final preparations, preparations have been going on since well before Christmas. This week it’s all coming to a head. It gets the adrenalin going. It’s a lot of pressure but it’s all bearable.

“We are delighted she is coming back after 40 years. People have been working hard and they will be tired by the end, although they can’t be too tired because they have to get on with the Maundy Thursday evening service.

“It feels good to have such a spotlight on the Minster. We are proud of the cathedral where we work and worship.”