Royal Family Gathers for Easter Service in Windsor; Several Members Absent

Royal Family Gathers for Easter Matins Service at Windsor, Wales's Return Marks Key Moment

Members of the British Royal Family, including King Charles III and Queen Camilla, attended the traditional Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, also participated with their three children, marking their first attendance at the event since 2023. Several other royal figures, including Prince Andrew and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, were notably absent.

Royal Attendance

King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the royal family members present at the Easter Matins Service. This event is recognized as a significant occasion in the King's calendar, reflecting his role as supreme governor of the Church of England. They were greeted upon arrival by the Dean of Windsor, Christopher Cocksworth, and extended Easter greetings to members of the public gathered outside following the service.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate, attended the service accompanied by their three children: Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10), and Prince Louis (7).

This occasion marked their first presence at the royal Easter service since 2023.

Their absence in the preceding two years was attributed to Kate's cancer diagnosis and treatment, which she announced in March 2024. Reports from last year indicated that her cancer was in remission.

Other members of the extended royal family present included Prince Edward, Anne (The Princess Royal), Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto, and Peter Phillips with his fiancée Harriet Sperling and their daughters.

Notable Absences

Several key royal family members were not in attendance at this year's Easter service.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was absent from the service. His absence follows his arrest and subsequent release without charge on February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This development occurred after the U.S. Justice Department released documents detailing communications between him and the late Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding Epstein.

Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and honors by King Charles last year and had stepped back from royal public duties in 2019 due to his association with Epstein. In February, he relocated from Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle to the King's privately owned Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. He had attended the Easter gathering in the previous year alongside his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Virginia Giuffre previously accused Epstein of trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was 17. Prince Andrew has denied these allegations, stating he has no recollection of meeting Giuffre, and reached an out-of-court settlement with her in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.

Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, were also not present at the service. A royal source indicated that their absence was a personal decision. However, other reports preceding the event suggested their non-attendance was related to the recent arrest of their father.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was absent from the traditional Easter services. Her husband, Prince Edward, and son, James, Earl of Wessex, were present. Reports indicated Sophie was "under the weather." Her daughter, Lady Louise, was also absent, as she is a student at St. Andrews University.

This marked the Duchess of Edinburgh's third consecutive major royal event missed, following the annual Commonwealth Day event on March 9 and a Nigerian state banquet.

In March, the Duchess had a busy travel schedule, including visits to Italy for the Paralympics and New York for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meeting, in addition to attending events in London.

Related Developments

King Charles III did not issue an Easter message this year. The family of Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre publicly urged the King to meet with survivors during his upcoming state visit to the U.S.

In a separate event on the same day, Sarah Mullally, the archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold this position, delivered her inaugural Easter sermon at Canterbury Cathedral.