King Charles and Queen Camilla are continuing a beloved royal family holiday tradition this Easter.
The couple joined the family at the Easter Mattins church service at St. George’s Chapel, located in Windsor Castle, on April 20. Also in attendance were all three of the King’s siblings: Princess Anne with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Andrew with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and Prince Edward with his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Andrew’s daughters also attended with their husbands — Princess Beatrice with Edoardo Mapelli Mozz and Princess Eugenie with Jack Brooksbank — and Edward’s son, James, Earl of Wessex, rounded out the group.
Prince William and Kate Middleton opted not to make the outing this year. They spent the holiday over 100 miles away in Norfolk, where they have a country home, with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
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The 14th-century chapel is the traditional gathering place for the royals on Easter. It’s where many former British monarchs are buried, including the King’s mother Queen Elizabeth, who died in September 2022. It’s also hosted many royal weddings, including those of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank and more. King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, also have a special connection to the chapel, as it was where their marriage was blessed in 2005. (The couple celebrated their 20th anniversary on April 9 during a state visit to Italy.)
Last year, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Easter church service despite his recent announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Following medical advice, they sat apart from other attendees during the service to minimize the risk of infection and skipped the private family lunch held following the mass.
During a surprise walkabout where they greeted members of the public who gathered outside the church, King Charles replied to one well-wisher’s “get well soon” with, “I’m doing my best!”
The British monarch is still undergoing cancer treatment and was briefly hospitalized on March 27 after experiencing “temporary side effects.” Although he canceled scheduled events in Birmingham for the following day, the King was back in action last week during a four-day state visit to Italy with his wife.
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King Charles and Queen Camilla started their Easter celebrations on Thursday, April 17, by taking part in the Royal Maundy Service, where they distributed gifts of “Maundy Money” in a tradition that dates back to 600 A.D.
The special coins recognize those over the age of 70 for outstanding Christian service to their communities, and the number of recipients matches the age of the monarch. This year, 76 men and 76 women received the gift to thank them for their community contributions.
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