Major royal pulls out of annual Easter Sunday service as health update given
A large gathering of royals has attended the traditional Easter Sunday church service - but one senior member of the family had to pull out.
The Duchess of Edinburgh had been expected to be among the members of the Firm joining the King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the annual Easter Matins service at Windsor Castle this morning. But despite both her husband Prince Edward being there with their son James, Earl of Wessex, Sophie did not join them. It is believed that she decided against attending the service as she is 'under the weather '.
The couple's daughter Lady Louise Windsor, who is studying at St Andrews University, was also not there, due to her concentrating on her studies.
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Despite Sophie missing out, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children did attend the traditional Easter service for the first time since Kate’s cancer diagnosis. Kate and William were among the senior members of the royal family to join the King and Queen at the Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
William waved to the large crowd outside the castle as the pair led a procession to the service with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Charlotte was in a tan coat and Kate wore an off-white ensemble of skirt, smart jacket and leafy hat, while William and the boys wore dark blue suits and ties.
Camilla arrived in red wool dress and coat by Fiona Clare, a hat by Phillip Treacy and a broach which belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Others among the royal party was Peter Phillips and his wife-to-be Harriet Sperling, who announced earlier this week they would be marrying in June. The Easter outing marks the first formal family event Harriet has appeared at, with her daughter Georgina, 15, joining Peter's daughters Savannah and Isla.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were not in attendance, having received agreement from the King to make alternative plans.
It comes as Beatice and Eugenie joined the Royal Family just three months ago for Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. Their invitation and acceptance was seen as a bold statement of support from the King who had sympathy for their plight.
Since then, both women featured in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the US State Department in January, while their father was arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the scandal surrounding his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal Easter celebrations kicked off on Thursday when Charles distributed the traditional Royal Maundy gifts at a special service. He was joined by Camilla at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales, where he gave out Maundy Money to to 77 men and 77 women who have showed outstanding Christian service and made a difference to the lives of people in their communities.