The Duchess of Edinburgh was expected to attend the annual Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle today alongside King Charles and Camilla, but stayed home
Numerous members of the royal family have gathered for the customary Easter Sunday church service – but one major family member was forced to withdraw.
The Duchess of Edinburgh had been anticipated to be amongst the members of the Firm accompanying the King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the annual Easter Matins service at Windsor Castle this morning. However despite both her husband Prince Edward being present with their son James, Earl of Wessex, Sophie did not accompany them. A royal insider has revealed Duchess of Edinburgh chose not to attend the service as she is “under the weather.”
The couple’s daughter Lady Louise Windsor, who is studying at St Andrews University, was also absent, owing to her focus on her studies. Despite Sophie’s absence, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children did attend the customary Easter service for the first time since Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
Kate and William were amongst the senior members of the royal family to accompany the King and Queen at the Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
William acknowledged the substantial crowd outside the castle as the pair headed a procession to the service with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, reports the Mirror. Last year both Andrew and Fergie attended the Easter service at Windsor, but neither participated due to their exclusion from the Royal Family.
The Easter link-up follows the disgraced duke Andrew’s children, Beatrice and Eugenie, joining the Royal Family just three months ago for Christmas festivities at Sandringham. Their invitation and attendance was viewed as a striking show of solidarity from the King who had compassion for their situation.
Since then both women appeared in the most recent batch of Epstein documents released by the US State Department in January. The girls’ father was detained, on his 66th birthday, for suspicion of misconduct in a public office around the ongoing the controversy surrounding his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
While there is no indication at present the King will remove their titles, those within royal circles suggest there is a “deep unease” about issuing any kind of public statement regarding the princesses as claims relating to the Epstein documents continue to surface.
Last year both Andrew and Fergie attended the Easter service at Windsor, but neither participated due to their exclusion from the Royal Family.
The former Duke of York is anticipated to spend the day on the Sandringham estate, where he currently resides and was spotted walking his dogs yesterday. It remains uncertain how Fergie, who has not been spotted publicly since December, will be observing the occasion.
At this service, supporters waving Union Jacks and Welsh flags gathered outside the cathedral to welcome the royal couple. However protesters from Republic – an anti-monarchy campaign group – brandished yellow flags and a banner bearing the message: “What are you hiding? Royal Epstein inquiry now”.
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