Inside the royal family's Easter plans amid 'testing' times
Easter will allow King Charles to take a much-needed rest
The Easter weekend is here, and the royal family have stepped out for the annual church service.
Festivities will take place during a “testing” time. With King Charles undergoing cancer treatment, the celebrations are expected to be more subdued and private than in years past.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to Royal Insider about how the family typically marks the Easter holiday. However, this year’s circumstances may shape their plans.
How the royal family spends Easter
“The royal Easter festivities begin with the traditional Maundy Service on Thursday,” Richard explained. “The number of recipients is rather quirkily linked to the monarch’s age.”
On April 17, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Maundy Thursday service at Durham Cathedral.
It’s a symbolic event where the sovereign distributes special coins to elderly citizens in recognition of their service to the church and community. It remains a cornerstone of royal Easter tradition.
On Easter Sunday, members of the royal family are typically photographed walking to church at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
This year, the king and queen were joined by their family at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Prince William and Kate weren’t in attendance, though. Instead, they celebrated the day at their country home Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
Royals in attendance included Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
What else do the royals do on Easter Sunday?
The church service is reportedly followed by a family lunch at Windsor Castle. Roast lamb is reportedly the traditional centrepiece of the meal.
While the public often gets a glimpse of the royals attending church, most of their Easter activities remain behind closed doors.
However, royal watchers have picked up small hints over time about what the celebrations could entail.
“William and Catherine have dropped hints that they and their family are involved in an Easter egg hunt,” Richard noted.
Royal family going through ‘testing’ time
In the 2022 Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries, a scene also featured their children taking part in an egg hunt. This suggests that the tradition is enjoyed across royal households, even amid personal differences.
But this year, Richard added, the family’s time together takes on a more emotionally significant tone.
“The royals have been successful in keeping their weekend activities private. However these are testing times,” he said. “With the king battling cancer and the Princess of Wales recovering from it, they will undoubtedly enjoy the support of their family.
“This will also be an opportunity to ensure that the workaholic monarch actually slows down over the Easter holiday.”
The royals have been successful in keeping their weekend activities private.
King Charles has been described as a workaholic. Therefore, the weekend is seen as a crucial opportunity to recharge.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been prioritising family amid Kate’s health recovery.
As King Charles continues to balance his workload with his treatment, and Princess Kate focuses on her recovery away from the public eye, Easter provides a much-needed moment of reconnection and rest.
Royal insiders believe the weekend will offer space not just for tradition, but for reflection, as the family quietly supports one another through a challenging season of change.
Read now: Queen Camilla shares new health update on King Charles as she admits ‘problem’
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