King Charles III has made his most significant outing since his cancer diagnosis last month, attending the traditional Easter Mattins church service in Windsor on Sunday.
Charles,75, appeared to be in good spirits as he arrived by car at St. George’s Chapel, a 14th century building on the grounds of Windsor castle, about an hour’s drive from London. He was accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, for the event termed staple in the royal calendar.
Typically, the extended royal family gathers for Easter at Windsor Castle before heading to church together. Their arrivals are usually watched by staff living at Windsor either from a nearby grassy bank or from their doorsteps.
The royal couple waved at the small crowd of well-wishers gathered nearby before making their way into the Chapel through the Galilee porch.
This year’s celebration is a quieter affair with a fewer people in attendance to minimise the king’s contacts during his time of treatment.
It is even expected that the King and Queen will sit apart from the rest of the congregation.
Similarly, the late Queen Elizabeth sat separately from her loved ones when she attended the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, which took place amid strict pandemic regulations in 2021.
The King’s siblings were the first family to arrive. Prince Edward and Sophie-Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, were the first family members to arrive and were accompanied by their son, James, Earl of Wessex.
They were followed by the king’s sister, Princess Anne who gave a qiuck wave to the crowd and her husband, Tim Laurence, as well Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
It was unclear if Charles would attend the usual post-service family lunch. In the days ahead, he and Camilla will reportedly take a break for Easter.
The King’s presence will be an encouraging sight for many royal watchers after he temporarily paused public-facing engagements on the advice of his doctors.
He has, however, kept a steady hand on the tiller, seeing state business and official paperwork with his daily red boxes from the UK government while maintaining a dairy of private audiences as well as his regular weekly meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
In recent days, he greeted the new ambassadors of Moldova and Burundi at Buckingham palace, met with Secretary-General of the Cimate Vulnerable Forum, as well as sat down with a group of community and leaders from around the UK.
Charles sought to reassure the nation he has been handling constitutional matters behind the scenes in a personal message ahead of the Easter weekend.
In a recorded audio address for the annual Royal Maundy service on Thursday, he reiterated his coronation pledge “not to be served but to serve with one whole heart.”
A notable absence from Sunday’s Easter festivities were the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. The Waleses attended last year with Prince Louis making his debut at the family outing to delight the royal watchers.
The family of five has been laying low since Catherine disclosed since she had started chemotherapy for cancer found in a post-operation tests after a planned abdominal surgery in January.
The Waleses are spending the Easter holidays together as they continue to adjust to Kate’s diagnosis and condition.
