Royal Family Assembles for Windsor Easter Sunday Service
Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and his family are absent from the traditional family event.
Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and his family are absent from the traditional family event.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are present at the Easter Sunday church service held in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.
The royal gathering also includes Prince William and Princess Catherine, who have not attended the traditional event for the past two years because of Princess Catherine’s cancer treatment.
Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor, his former spouse Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are not in attendance, despite having taken part in the ceremony the previous year.
It has been reported that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have arranged "alternative plans" for Easter.
Family Arrival and Public Reaction
Cheering erupted from onlookers as Prince William and Princess Catherine led their children into the chapel. The crowd, separated by barriers, roared with enthusiasm when the royal family made its entrance.
Princess Charlotte, one of the children, waved energetically to the assembled spectators, creating a moment that was captured by cameras and shared widely on social media platforms.
Princess Anne also arrived, accompanied by her husband Sir Tim Laurence. Prince Edward and his family joined the procession, reinforcing the sense that the Easter service is a familial gathering rather than a formal state occasion.
King Charles and Queen Camilla entered the chapel after the rest of the family, and a voice from the crowd was heard shouting, "God bless the King," underscoring the reverence many hold for the monarch.
Nature of the Service
The Easter service at St. George’s Chapel is regarded as a traditional family event rather than an official engagement. It provides an opportunity for the royal family to observe the religious significance of Easter together, away from the rigors of state duties.
King Charles did not issue a separate Easter message this year, an omission that aligns with the private nature of the gathering.
Earlier in the week, King Charles and Queen Camilla participated in the traditional Maundy Thursday service in Denbighshire, Wales. The Maundy service commemorates the Last Supper, emphasizing humility and service to others.
During the Maundy Thursday service, King Charles presented gifts to 77 men and 77 women from across the United Kingdom in recognition of outstanding Christian service and contributions to local communities.
Background on Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor
Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor was stripped of his royal title following an investigation that led to his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. After the investigation began, Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor relocated to Sandringham in Norfolk.
Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor and his immediate family have been linked to the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has raised persistent questions about their connections to the convicted American sex offender.
Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor has publicly denied any wrongdoing in relation to his alleged connections with Jeffrey Epstein.
Archbishop’s Easter Sermon
This year marks the first occasion on which the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, delivered the Easter sermon. In her address, Dame Sarah Mullally called for an end to "violence and destruction" in the Middle East.
Dame Sarah Mullally prayed "with renewed urgency" for peace before the congregation at Canterbury Cathedral, noting that the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran had entered its sixth week at the time of the sermon.
