The King and Queen have led a unified Royal Family at church for their traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor.
Charles and Camilla were this year joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.
Meanwhile, the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who did not attend today’s service, yesterday cut a lonely figure as he was pictured walking his dogs on the Sandringham estate.
Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, were also present at the Easter gathering, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh and his son James, Earl of Wessex, 18.
The Duchess of Edinburgh was expected to attend but was ‘under the weather’, while her daughter, Lady Louise, was busy with her studies.
Notable by their absence at the Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, were Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
With the agreement of the King, they have made alternative plans and will miss the traditional gathering.
Sources have maintained they will join the Royal Family at future occasions, but in the current circumstances it was decided that they would stay away.
Senior royals were led by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children down on foot from Windsor Castle, despite the blustery conditions.
The large – and notably young – party chatted happily as they walked.
Kate wore an off-white ensemble of skirt, smart jacket and leafy hat, while William and the boys wore dark blue suits and ties.
Princess Charlotte, sporting a pretty dress under a warm camel-colours coat with a brown velvet collar and cuffs, looked delighted and waved to the crowd. Louis walked proudly beside her.
Also in the group were The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, with The Duke of Edinburgh and his son James, Earl of Wessex, 18.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arriving with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, arriving with other members of the royal family to attend the Easter Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle – April 5, 2026
King Charles III waves as he arrives with members of his family at St George’s Chapel, in Windsor
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured walking his dogs on the Sandringham estate on Saturday, April 4, 2026
Peter Phillips and his fiancée, Harriet Sperling, were also in attendance with his daughters, Savannah and Isla.
And for the first time, in a sign of the new, blended Royal Family, Ms Sperling’s daughter, Georgina, 13, was also in attendance with her new step-sisters to be.
At the rear of the group were Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband, Daniel.
Finally, the King and Queen were driven down in the State Bentley and arrived in front of the castle to a shout of ‘God save the King’ from the crowd.
Camilla was sporting a red wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare and a hat by Philip Treacy with a brooch which had belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles looked full of good spirits as he warmly greeted his family despite the chill winds, sweetly touching his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, on the shoulder.
After the hour-long service – during which prayers were said for the Royal Family and the National Anthem sung – the royal party moved from the chapel to the deanery for tea with the Dean of Windsor, The Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth.
After around 20 minutes, Charles appeared alongside Camilla, who was presented with a beautiful posy by Kit Bannan, 10, a member of the Windsor Castle community.
The King and Queen’s State Bentley had drawn up outside with no plans for a walkabout given how cold and windy it was, but the couple walked around it to undertake a shortened meet-and-greet given the cheers of the public waiting patiently outside the chapel.
Among them was Frank Gates, seven, from Egremont in Cumbria, who was smartly dressed in the uniform of the Coldstream Guards and proudly saluted his Colonel-in—Chief, the King.
Before their arrival he said: ‘I really want to be in the Coldstream Guards when I am older.’ Asked why, he said sweetly: ‘Because they are second to none.’
Royal ‘superfan’ John Loughrey, from south London, said afterwards that His Majesty had spotted their flags: ‘He said he had seen our flags and wished us happy Easter.’
As the car drew away, the other members of the royal party came up the steps, led by the Waleses, who all – children included – waved happily to well-wishers wishing them ‘Happy Easter’.
As they walked back up the hill to the castle, Catherine could be seen giving her daughter, Charlotte, a proud hug, placing her arm around her shoulders and squeezing her.
They were followed by Princess Anne and her husband, then her granddaughter, Savannah and Isla Phillips, along with her soon-to-be step-sister, Georgina.
Peter Phillips and his fiancee Harriet, elegant in a sky blue spotted peplum jacket and skirt with a Jane Taylor hat and Kiki McDonough earrings, held hands as they walked back to the castle.
Queen Camilla receives flowers after attending the Easter Service at St George’s Chapel — April 5, 2026
King Charles III speaking to well wishers after attending the Easter Service — April 5, 2026
Prince William chats with his smiling daughter, Princess Charlotte, as they attend the Easter Service at Windsor Castle
Queen Camilla speaking to well wishers after attending the Easter Service at St George’s Chapel — April 5, 2026
Isla Phillips, Harriet Sperling’s daughter Georgina and Savannah Phillips leave after attending the Easter Service — April 5, 2026
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis wave to the crowd as they leave with their mother, the Princess of Wales — April 5, 2026
James, Earl of Wessex, walked out with the remaining royals.
Last year, Charles and Camilla were joined by the former Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at the 15th century chapel on Easter Sunday.
Since then, however, Andrew has been stripped by the King of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom over his association with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, though Beatrice and Eugenie kept their princess titles.
Andrew was arrested in February, on his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
He has denied any wrongdoing over his links to Epstein regarding Ms Giuffre, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.
Beatrice and Eugenie have also faced scrutiny after their names appeared in the recently-released Epstein files.
The Prince and Princess of Wales missed the service last year as they were spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk, and they were also absent in 2024 as it came just over a week after Catherine released an emotional video message disclosing that she had started a course of preventative chemotherapy.
A large crowd of eager royal fans had gathered from early to secure a spot to watch the royal procession down from Windsor Castle.
The Easter service comes days after Buckingham Palace announced Charles’s visit to the US will go ahead from April 27 to April 30 as planned, despite tensions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
Lady Sarah Chatto and Daniel Chatto leave after attending the Easter Service — April 5, 2026
The Prince of Wales waves to the gathering crowd as he arrives alongside Princess Kate and their three children
Princess Charlotte and Prince William stand next to Prince Louis as he shakes hands with the Dean of Windsor, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Cocksworth
The King waves to the crowd before entering St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the Easter Service
Queen Camilla speaks with the Dean of Windsor, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Cocksworth
The Princess of Wales with her daughter, Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte looks at her brother Prince Louis as the siblings arrive for the Easter Service
The Princess Royal shaking hands with The Dean of Windsor, the Rt. Rev. Christopher Cocksworth
Meanwhile, a body language expert has claimed Andrew desperately tried to flaunt his ‘blue blood’ status superiority over royal rival Sir Tim Laurence on Easter Sunday in 2023.
Following the Royal Family’s annual Easter Sunday service at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel three years ago, the former prince was captured holding a gate open for the clergy, Princess Anne and Sarah, as they all exited the chapel.
However, a rather disgruntled Andrew, who found himself in a ‘humiliating regal royal downgrade’, appeared to reject the prospect of stepping out behind his brother-in-law, Sir Tim, 71.
According to Judi James, the ex-duke, now 66, underwent some ‘desperate queue-jumping that muscled the eternally polite Sir Tim to the back of the queue behind him’.
The event would mark one of Andrew’s last Easters with the Royal Family following the ensuing fallout of his controversial ties to Epstein.
However, three years ago, the then-Duke of York was eager to claim an ‘important centre power spot’ and a ‘dominant’ role in the Firm – at the expense of Sir Tim.
Analysing the striking footage, Ms James told the Daily Mail: ‘Andrew arrives at the top of the stairs wearing a ‘gloating’ type of smile at being the first royal to emerge and greet the cameras.
‘His eyes stare up at the corners with teeth bared. He performs a small, gallant glide to grab the gate and pull it back but his smile quickly drops as he finds himself pinned behind it and having to wait while the others go first at thanking and chatting to the clergy.’
Ms James noted that as Andrew continued to play the role of ‘doorman’, he soon realised he would be forced to ‘hold the gate open for non blue-blood Sir Tim’ and quickly began to establish a ‘get-out strategy’.
‘Andrew’s apparent impatience and indignation is suggested by the way he raises his hand to hold the spear at the top of the fencing,’ Ms James noted.
‘His hand becomes a claw at the top of the pole and his lips are clamped as he scans the cameras and the public with a wary eye expression.’
While it may have been ‘more polite for Andrew to wait his turn and go last’, the former prince instead ‘looks at Tim with two intentional gestures that show he has no intention of being last after his brother-in-law here’.
‘Andrew appears to warm up to jump in via a couple of small leans or pushes inward as though he is revving up for the push,’ said Ms James.
However, the clergy then appeared to turn back to speak to Anne, leaving a ‘frowning’ Andrew ‘ignored in the conversation’.
Charles smiles as he arrives with Queen Camilla for the Easter Service
The Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence
Prince George of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the 2026 Easter Matins Service
Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling attending the Easter Service at St George’s Chapel
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis
‘This time, Andrew pushes straight in front of Tim and turns his glance to the cameras to announce his arrival in the important centre power-spot,’ added Ms James.
‘Andrew might have nodded at Tim to register the pushing-in but it seems he just ignores him, a gesture that looks like a lack of respect.’
In response to Andrew’s actions, Tim appears to ‘grin wryly’, which Ms James notes may be a ‘form of polite indulgence’.
‘He remains cold-shouldered by Andrew, pushed behind him while Fergie is pushed to the side.’
