The Prince and Princess of Wales will not attend the annual Easter service in Windsor this weekend as they are set to enjoy a break with their children at their Norfolk home.
William and Kate will skip the Easter service(Image: Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales are set to skip the traditional Royal Easter gathering at Windsor Castle, opting instead to spend the holiday weekend with their children at their Norfolk country home.
According to a source, Prince William has informed the King that they will miss the annual Royal congregation to “enjoy some extended time as a family over Easter”. The source also noted that “They are choosing to spend time together as a family before the children go back to school”.
Last year, the Waleses did not attend the service shortly after the princess’s cancer diagnosis.
A Royal insider confirmed that the Prince of Wales communicated his decision to the King, who accepted the couple’s choice to spend Easter with their children. On Sunday, the King, as the Church of England’s figurehead, which Prince William is destined to helm one day, will preside over the Royal family’s church attendance at Windsor Castle.
It is anticipated that the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, will be present. Last year, Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson made unexpected appearances at the Easter Matins service in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, reports the Mirror.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Durham Cathedral today(Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The Duchess of York’s attendance at the service was her first since her divorce from Andrew in 1996. Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales is gradually resuming her Royal duties following her cancer diagnosis in February last year.
Recently, the princess shared her profound connection with nature, describing the “very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection” she feels when spending time outdoors, which brings her a sense of peace in a chaotic world.
A new video posted by Kensington Palace on Monday showed Kate, donning a bakerboy cap, walking along the shores of Lake Windermere in the Lake District with a group of Scouts from Cumbria and Stretford, Greater Manchester. In conversation with chief scout Dwayne Fields, she emphasized the significance of being outdoors, saying it was “so… meaningful for me as a place of balance”.
William and Kate with their children (Image: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)
The princess has long championed the benefits of spending time in nature, previously revealing how it became her family’s “sanctuary” during her diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment. She has often spoken about craving sunlight and the solace she finds in the natural world.
Following a recent skiing holiday with their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, William and Kate have returned to their Royal duties. However, the publication of photos from their family break in a French magazine sparked a reaction from Kensington Palace.
The family took advantage of the February half-term with a getaway to the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique, while William and Kate also whisked themselves away for a separate ski trip in France at the end of December. The latter holiday included Kate’s brother James and his wife, Alizée.
It’s been a particularly challenging year for the Royal Family, with both the King and his daughter-in-law Kate confronting cancer diagnoses within just days of one another.
After six months of preventative chemotherapy, the future queen spoke candidly in September about her immense relief at completing her treatment. In a heartfelt video accompanied by husband William, their three children, and her own parents, 43 year old Kate described the past year as “incredibly tough” and reminded viewers “that life as you know it can change in an instant”.
Bringing optimism at the start of the new year, the princess shared the heartening news that she was in remission from cancer, dedicating herself to concentrate on recovery. On social media, she conveyed: “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead,” ending her message with her initial “C” for Catherine.
Meanwhile, the King and Queen have been residing at their Birkhall home on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, following a hectic four-day state visit to Italy. Despite undergoing weekly cancer treatment, the King has kept an incredibly busy schedule this year.
He was also recently hospitalised due to temporary side effects from the treatment. Kensington Palace has not provided any comment.
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