King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla Are All Smiles at Easter Service
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King Charles III appeared to be in high spirits while attending Easter service at Windsor Castle this morning—his first major royal public engagement since he announced in February that he’d been diagnosed with cancer.
The king attended the Sunday mass at St. George’s Chapel, accompanied by Queen Consort Camilla. Other royal members in attendance included Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
As a medical precaution to limit the risk of infection, Charles and Camilla were seated away from the rest of the royal family and other attendees. And, in accordance with the king’s doctors’ orders, neither Charles or Camilla attended a reception of private lunch following the service.
After the mass, the royal couple conducted a surprise walkabout. In a show of gratitude for all the support he has received throughout the past few months, Charles greeted and thanked the general public, estate workers, and members of the congregation, shaking their hands and smiling.
Buckingham Palace announced Charles’s cancer diagnosis on February 5 in a statement that noted he would be postponing public-facing duties as he commenced a schedule of regular outpatient treatments. During this time, he continued to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. He made his first public engagement since his diagnosis on Wednesday, when he met with Martina Milburn, CEO of the Prince’s Trust, and later held an audience with community faith leaders from across the United Kingdom.
These engagements come as Harper’s Bazaar learned from a royal source that the king has been “frustrated” with his cancer diagnosis, which has hindered him from doing what he loves: work.
Noticeably missing from the Easter Service were Princess Kate, Prince William, and their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. Bazaar confirmed days ago that the royals would not be making an appearance at today's service, as Kate is lying low and focusing on recovery.
Kensington Palace previously stated that Kate would likely be absent from the public eye until after Easter due to the planned abdominal surgery she underwent in January. However, following her emotional cancer announcement video on March 22 (in which she revealed she is being treated with preventative chemotherapy), a palace insider shared she will extend her hiatus until she is recovered.
“The princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team,” the source told Bazaar.
The source continued, “She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.” The source added, Prince William “will continue to balance supporting his wife and family and maintaining his official duties as he has done since the start of the year.”
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