King Charles leads a ‘slimmed down’ royal family at Windsor’s Easter service, marking their first public appearance since Prince Andrew’s arrest
WINDSOR: The British royal family attended a traditional Easter service at St George’s Chapel on Sunday. Their appearance marked a show of family unity in their first public gathering since the arrest of the former Prince Andrew.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the chapel within Windsor Castle’s grounds. They were joined by a group described by the BBC as a “slightly slimmed down” contingent of royals.
Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, attended with their three children. Catherine wore a beige suit and hat for her first Easter service appearance in three years.
She was absent in 2024 while undergoing cancer treatment, and her family opted not to attend last year’s event. The family smiled and waved at well-wishers as they entered the chapel.
Also present were Charles’s siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne, along with their spouses. The service was the family’s first joint appearance since Andrew’s arrest in February.
His arrest followed revelations in the released messages of convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files exposed Epstein’s longstanding ties with Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Neither Andrew nor Ferguson, who has also been stripped of her Duchess of York title, attended this year’s Easter service. The pair had made a surprise appearance at last year’s event.
Their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, said ahead of the service they had made alternative plans. A royal source told AFP they would be seen at future family celebrations.
The sisters attended a Christmas church service last year without their parents. Prince Edward reportedly visited his isolated brother at the Sandringham estate this week.
According to The Sun tabloid, this was the first royal visit to Andrew in two months. King Charles is scheduled to make a state visit to the United States later this month.
