Royals attend Windsor Easter Sunday service
Royals attend Windsor Easter Sunday service
On Sunday, King Charles and Queen Camilla participated in a church service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. The event marked the first appearance of the royal couple at the traditional gathering since their previous attendance. Joining them were Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who brought their children—Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7—to the ceremony. The trio’s presence was noted as they entered the chapel, with Princess Charlotte drawing cheers from the crowd as she waved to spectators behind barriers.
Absent from the service were Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, along with their ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. This followed their absence last year, when the family chose to celebrate Easter on a holiday in Norfolk. The King and Queen arrived last, and a spectator was heard exclaiming, “God bless the King,” as they entered. Upon exiting, the monarchs greeted the public, offering well-wishes for the holiday.
According to reports, the service is considered a familial tradition rather than an official royal duty. King Charles did not deliver an Easter message this year, a departure from recent years. The King and Queen also attended the Maundy service in Denbighshire, Wales, on Thursday, which honors the Last Supper and promotes humility in service. During that event, he presented gifts to 77 men and 77 women, recognizing their community contributions and Christian devotion.
Audible applause was noted from spectators as Prince William and Catherine led their children into the chapel. The service was described as “good” by Queen Camilla when asked about its quality. Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has seen him lose his royal title, with allegations of misconduct in public office still under review. His family has faced scrutiny linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, though he has denied any wrongdoing connected to it.
On Sunday, Dame Sarah Mullally, the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, delivered an Easter sermon at Canterbury Cathedral. In her address, she urged an end to “violence and destruction” in the Middle East, calling for peace amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has persisted for six weeks. The sermon emphasized renewed prayers for stability and unity among the region’s communities.