The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children joined King Charles and Queen Camilla as a united front for the Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle
The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children, joined a large Royal Family gathering to mark Easter this morning. The family alongside, the King and Queen, spearheaded a significant display of unity as they attended the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
William and Kate were absent from last year’s service as they spent the weekend with their children in Norfolk. The couple also missed the 2024 service due to it falling just over a week after Kate shared an emotional video message revealing she had begun preventative chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis.
This event also represents the largest royal gathering since the arrest of the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, with his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie opting out of this morning’s service. It was revealed earlier this week, with the consent of their uncle the King, the sisters have made alternative arrangements and will not be attending the family gathering.
William and Kate, accompanied by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, led the royals down the hill towards St George’s Chapel in gusty conditions. Charlotte donned a tan coat while Kate sported an oatmeal-coloured dress from the brand Self Portrait, adorned with two distinct pineapple symbols on the jacket.
Kate had previously donned the identical ensemble during a visit to the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2022. Many observers at the time suggested the symbols carried a concealed meaning, as the fruit has emerged as an emblem of hope for those facing fertility challenges, reports the Mirror.
Behind them came Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, alongside Prince Edward and his son James, Viscount Severn. The Duchess of Edinburgh had been anticipated to join them but was absent as she was “feeling unwell”. Sophie and Edward’s daughter Lady Louise was also missing as she is occupied with her university studies.
Nevertheless, amongst the royal group was Peter Phillips and his fiancée Harriet Sperling, who revealed earlier this week they plan to wed in June. The Easter gathering represents the first official family occasion Harriet has attended, with her daughter Georgina, 15, accompanying Peter’s daughters Savannah and Isla.
King Charles and Camilla – wearing a red wool dress and coat by Fiona Clare and a hat by Phillip Treacy and a brooch that had belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II – arrived by vehicle to cries of “God Save the King.”
They were welcomed outside the chapel by their relatives before heading inside for the service, with the King playfully patting his seven-year-old grandson Louis on the shoulder as they entered.
The Easter link-up follows 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.
Royal Easter festivities began on Thursday with Prince Charles distributing the customary Royal Maundy gifts at a special service. He was accompanied by Camilla at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales, where he presented Maundy Money to 77 men and 77 women who have demonstrated exceptional Christian service and positively impacted their communities.
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”.
Just hours before the arrival of Charles and Camilla, graffiti stating “Not our King” was removed from a wall within the cathedral grounds, which is home to the UK’s smallest ancient cathedral.
The Easter service also follows recent news from Buckingham Palace that Charles’ trip to the US will proceed as scheduled from 27 April to 30 April, despite tensions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
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