The British royal family showed their unity on Sunday by attending an Easter church service in Windsor, west of London, the first public appearance since the arrest of ex-Prince Andrew, who was not present.
Under a spring sun, King Charles III, 77, and Queen Camilla, accompanied by Prince William, his wife Kate and their children – George, Charlotte and Louis – went together to St George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle for Matins Mass.
This is the first time since she was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024 that Princess Catherine has attended this Easter service.
At their side were Prince Edward and Princess Anne, brother and sister of the sovereign.
A select committee which told the BBC that the royal family appeared in a “slightly reduced” configuration.
Dozens of people gathered outside the castle to catch a glimpse of the royal family, and shouted “Happy Easter,” while the Prince, Princess of Wales and their three children waved to the crowd with smiles.
Besides Andrew, now persona non grata due to his past links with American sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, were not present on Sunday.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, under police investigation, suspected of “misconduct in the exercise of a public function”, and Fergie had participated again last year.
Since then, the ex-prince was stripped of his titles of nobility by the king, had to leave his residence on the royal estate of Windsor, and now lives in Sandringham (east of England), a private estate belonging to Charles.
He was arrested in February for questioning by police. He has not been charged and has previously denied any guilt.
His daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, mentioned in the Epstein file but without being implicated, had again been seen with the rest of the royal family at the traditional Christmas mass at Sandringham.
But according to a royal source, the two women have made “other arrangements” for Easter with “the agreement and understanding of the king”. They will, however, be “present at future family celebrations,” she said.
