Like most of the nation, the Royal Family is gearing up to celebrate Easter. However, with King Charles and the Princess of Wales both undergoing treatment for cancer, the celebration is set to be in stark contrast to the holidays gone by
It’s set to be a far-from-ordinary Easter for the Royal Family following Kate’s shock diagnosis.
The holy weekend is a sacred time for the Firm, who have many cherished memories as a family in Windsor during the holiday – one that was adored by the late Queen. Traditionally, the royals attend church at St George’s Chapel within Windsor castle on Easter Sunday, before sitting down to a family lunch.
Last year, the family was forced to celebrate without the late Queen for the first time, and this year looks set to be equally unsettled with both King Charles and the Princess of Wales undergoing treatment for cancer.
It will be a much smaller affair given Kate, Prince William, and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have reportedly decided to spend the next few weeks away from Windsor. They’ll be maximising their time alone as a family of five, carrying out the princess’ three wishes of time, space, and privacy.
“I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits,” the princess said on Friday evening as she announced she had been diagnosed with cancer – just weeks after Charles’ diagnosis.
With the head of state and the future Queen both receiving treatment, the royal family faces an uncertain period. But the monarchy is reportedly using the occasion to present a signal of unity in his Easter message. Here, The Mirror takes a look at what Easter will look like for the Royal Family…
King Charles’ selfless gesture
King Charles is set to rally the nation as he plans to lead the Royal Family on Easter Sunday at their annual church service in a public show of unity. Royal sources confirmed Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, is “hoping to make” the journey to St George’s Chapel in Windsor this weekend to reassure the public amid incredibly testing times.
The Sunday Mirror revealed that Charles, 75, has recorded a special Easter message of hope, to be broadcast on Maundy Thursday at Worcester Cathedral. Queen Camilla will lead The Firm at the annual Royal Maundy Service, to distribute the Royal Maundy gifts on behalf of her husband.
A royal source said: “The King has been keeping in touch with the Princess of Wales from the moment she was admitted to hospital in January and throughout her current cancer treatment. He is utterly determined to put on a show of unity for his family and reassure the public and wider world that the monarchy is stable, despite the current tumultuous period it is experiencing.
“The King is very much hoping he will be able to make the Easter church service but will of make a final decision on the day.” Speaking on the significance of the message, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Daily Express: “The message will focus on the spiritual on this significant religious anniversary, but he is likely to personalise it too.
“Catherine, in her video message, talked of focusing on ‘the things which will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits’. This is an unprecedented opportunity, unique to the Royal Family, to get across some positive ideas in a world where the lives of so many are marred by illness and conflict.”
Kate’s family retreat
It is understood the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children will spend their four-week Easter school break at Anmer Hall – their home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, before William resumes public duties from mid-April.
An aide told the Mirror: “The family just want to go away for Easter, spend time together, the five of them, close off from the world and move on.” A royal source added: “William is extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not just this week, but since her surgery in January.
“He has always done all he can to protect his family and now more than ever he’s focused on ensuring his wife has the privacy she needs to fully recover and that his children are shielded from the understandable interest in the news that has been shared.”
Since her shocking diagnosis following abdominal surgery in January, it is believed that the mum-of-three has received incredible support from her parents – mum Carole, 69, and father Michael, 74. The two are understood to have been on hand to care for Kate and have also played a “crucial” role in caring for their grandchildren.
Break of traditions
Good Friday always marks the start of the long Easter weekend and the start of the royal traditions, which usually includes eating hot cross buns and enjoying a fish supper. However, the most public of the royal Easter celebrations is usually on the Sunday, when members of the Royal Family are seen attending a church service at St George’s Chapel.
Two years ago, William and Kate led the royals at the service and brought along their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte for the first time. And last year, Prince Louis made his first appearance.
Others usually in attendance for the service include the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor, James the Earl of Wessex, as well as Mike and Zara Tindall with daughter Mia. Once returning from church, the royals usually sit down to a hearty roast dinner – usually lamb.
Other menu items, which are all sourced for royal estates, could include venison, pheasant chicken, spring vegetables, new potatoes, carrots, salmon caught in the River Dee and roast ham. However it was suggested last year that Charles could relax a strict rule on dining that his late mother used to insist on – and it would have affected Kate and William’s three kids.
Royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, Ingrid Seward, told The Sun last year: “They will all have dinner together but not the young children they will eat in the nursery dining room. The Queen always said until they could hold a knife and fork properly they could not eat at the table, but Charles might have relaxed that rule a bit. But dinner is only for grown-ups.”
In a statement released on Saturday, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message. They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy.”
