King and Queen Join Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle

King Charles III and Queen Camilla participated in a well-attended church service at St George's Chapel, located within the historic grounds of Windsor Castle, as part of their Easter celebrations. This traditional Easter Matins service, which took place in the 15th-century chapel, attracted several members of the Royal Family, including the Duke of York. Notably absent from the gathering were the Prince and Princess of Wales along with their children, who opted to spend the holiday weekend in Norfolk.
As the royal couple exited the chapel, they were greeted warmly by a crowd of well-wishers who gathered outside to offer their Easter greetings. Among the heartfelt moments, a young girl presented Queen Camilla with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, embodying the spirit of the season.
Among those attending the service was Prince Andrew, who arrived in a car with his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York. They were joined by Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence. This year's attendance was particularly notable as Prince Andrew had previously missed the Royal Family's traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham due to ongoing controversies surrounding his connections to an alleged Chinese spy.
Outside the chapel, Princess Anne was seen engaging in a lengthy conversation with the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth, while Prince Andrew hurried into the service, reflecting perhaps his desire to avoid any unwanted attention. Additionally, sisters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice made their appearances with their husbands, marking another family gathering. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were also present, arriving with their son, James, who is now noticeably taller than his father, Prince Edward, at just 17 years old. The sight of the towering teenager walking alongside his father drew smiles from the attending crowd of royal enthusiasts.
Earlier in the week, on Maundy Thursday, King Charles and Queen Camilla participated in another significant service at Durham Cathedral. This event followed the King's Easter message, which emphasized the importance of unity across different faiths and acknowledged the invaluable contributions of individuals providing humanitarian aid amidst conflicts and disasters worldwide. During his message, the King remarked, One of the puzzles of our humanity is how we are capable of both great cruelty and great kindness.
In a departure from tradition, the Easter sermon typically delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury was presented instead by the Archbishop of York at York Minster. In his powerful message, the Archbishop called for peace in what he termed a troubled world, highlighting contemporary conflicts such as those in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He cautioned against the perilous tendencies of a world that others others, fosters disunity among communities, and promotes greed and hatred.
As the Royal Family celebrates Easter, the reflections from both the King and the Archbishop resonate deeply, urging hope and charity in a world that often seems divided.