Easter Sunday brought the Royal Family to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor for one of the year’s most watched traditional gatherings — and this year’s service carried an extra layer of significance. The Princess of Wales made her return to the Easter service after a two-year absence, joining King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the rest of the working royals for what is considered one of the family’s most personal annual traditions.

Catherine’s Return — Two Years in the Making

The crowds outside Windsor gathered early, and the biggest cheer of the morning came when Prince William and Catherine walked in with their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. Princess Charlotte delighted onlookers by waving to the crowds gathered behind the barriers as the family made their way inside.

Catherine had been absent from the Easter service for the past two years. The family skipped last year to holiday in Norfolk, and the year before her absence came shortly after her cancer diagnosis — a period when the world watched with concern and the family navigated an intensely difficult time quietly. Her presence this year, by contrast, felt like a statement of normalcy and recovery.

The King and Queen Arrive — Warmly Greeted by the Crowd

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived last, as is tradition, with the King smiling and waving to well-wishers on his way into the chapel. One onlooker was heard calling out “God bless the King” as the couple passed. On their way out after the service, both Charles and Camilla stopped to shake hands with members of the public and wish them a happy Easter — the kind of informal, personal moment that tends to resonate beyond the official photographs. When asked about the service, the Queen offered a straightforward verdict: “Good.”

Princess Anne attended with her husband Sir Tim Laurence, and Prince Edward was present with his family. The Easter service is deliberately positioned as a personal family occasion rather than a formal royal engagement, which gives it a distinctly warmer quality than many official events on the royal calendar.

Notable Absences — and the Andrew Situation

Not everyone was there. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were all absent — having attended last year. The princesses are understood to have made alternative Easter plans. Andrew’s situation carries considerably more weight than a scheduling conflict, however. He has been stripped of his royal title, remains under investigation after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and has relocated to Sandringham in Norfolk. His ongoing association with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to generate questions, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Earlier in the Week — The Maundy Service in Wales

The Easter weekend began on Thursday when King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the traditional Maundy service in Denbighshire, Wales. The ceremony — which commemorates the Last Supper and the Christian values of humility and service — saw the King present specially minted Maundy coins to 77 men and 77 women, chosen in recognition of their outstanding service to their communities and the Church. The number reflects the King’s age, following the long-standing royal tradition.

The New Archbishop of Canterbury Delivers Her First Easter Sermon

Sunday also marked a significant milestone at Canterbury Cathedral, where Dame Sarah Mullally delivered her first Easter sermon as the new Archbishop of Canterbury — the first woman to lead the Church of England in that role. In her address, she called for an end to the violence and destruction in the Middle East, praying with what she described as “renewed urgency” for peace as the US-Israel conflict with Iran entered its sixth week. It was a debut that immediately placed her voice at the centre of one of the most pressing global conversations of the moment.