King Charles has led the Royal Family at a much scaled-down traditional Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor that saw several key members of the Firm not attend
It is usually one of the year’s biggest royal gatherings of the year that sees them all attend church in their Sunday best.
But this year’s annual royal Easter Sunday service has been a much smaller, select gathering with some of the biggest players in the Firm not in attendance. One key royal who had already confirmed his attendance in advance was King Charles, with today marking his most significant public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer last month. So which royals were there and who skipped the event, despite being there last year? Here we take a look…
Royals at Easter service
Of course, attending alongside the King was Queen Camilla, who has been a constant at her husband’s side since the news of the cancer diagnosis was announced. Camilla’s attendance at the service was confirmed earlier this week when it was announced Charles would be there.
On Thursday, Camilla was inundated with goodwill messages for the King and Princess of Wales, who are both undergoing cancer treatment, when she stood in for her husband during the historic Royal Maundy Service. Camilla was asked to pass on public support from some in the congregation at Worcester Cathedral, where she presented Maundy money to community stalwarts in recognition of their service.
Also there was Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie, along with their 16-year-old son James, the Earl of Wessex. An unexpected attendee was Sarah Ferguson, who attended with Prince Andrew. His appearance comes just days before a Netflix drama based on his infamous Newsnight interview drops on the streaming platform.
Royals not at Easter service
The most high-profile of those not at the service today were the Prince and Princess of Wales along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Last week it was revealed that future queen Kate is currently undergoing a course of chemotherapy that started in February after receiving a cancer diagnosis following her abdominal surgery in January.
It had been hoped before news of Kate’s diagnosis that she and the rest of the family would be at the annual event today, which is usually a regular event in their diaries. However, the family are spending the Easter holidays together as they adjust to Kate’s diagnosis, which was discovered in post-operative tests following her major abdominal surgery.
Also not there this year was Mike and Zara Tindall along with their children with Zara competing in a three-day eventing competition in Nottingham. Her brother Peter Phillips also wasn’t at the service. Also missing was Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie along with their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, who all attended last year.
The King’s cousin Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret, was there last year with her husband Daniel, but not today.
