Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Prince William and Princess Kate Mark Easter Privately
The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly chose to observe a personal Easter holiday, deviating from the traditional royal family gathering.
Quiet Easter Observance at Anmer Hall
While senior members of the Royal Family attended Easter services on Sunday, April 20, Prince William, 42, and Princess Kate, 43, spent the holiday with the Middleton family, according to reports from Hello! Magazine. The couple and their children were seen attending a church service in Sandringham, close to their Norfolk residence, Anmer Hall.
Family Church Outing
The Prince and Princess were accompanied by their three children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 7—for the Easter celebration. Princess Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, also joined the family outing, reports indicated. Eyewitness accounts detailed the Wales family departing the church via a side exit, avoiding onlookers gathered outside.
Representatives for Kensington Palace have been contacted for official confirmation.
King Charles and Queen Camilla Lead Windsor Easter Service
Meanwhile, King Charles III and Queen Camilla upheld the customary Easter tradition at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, were present for the royal church service, along with Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie, and their son, James, Earl of Wessex. Prince Andrew was also present, accompanied by his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, alongside their husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank.
Prince William and Princess Kate’s absence from the main Easter service had been noted earlier in April, with reports suggesting their intention to celebrate privately with their immediate family. The Mirror reported on April 17 that the couple planned to spend quality time with their children before the resumption of school.
Royal Tradition and Speculation
“This is significant,” an insider revealed to Us Weekly regarding the Prince and Princess of Wales’ decision to forego the larger royal gathering. “It is a long-standing royal custom for the family to attend Easter together.”
Second Consecutive Easter Absence
This Easter marks the second consecutive year that Prince William and Princess Kate have chosen not to participate in the family’s Easter church services. Their absence last year occurred shortly after Princess Kate’s public announcement of her cancer diagnosis. (King Charles also received a cancer diagnosis the previous year. While Princess Kate recently shared news of being in remission, the King continues to receive treatment.)
“Last year’s absence was understandable given Princess Kate’s health, but there has been considerable discussion within palace circles regarding Prince William’s decision to abstain again this year,” the source added. “It is perceived by some as a deliberate choice, even a slight.”