Prince William, Princess Kate, and their three children were notably absent for a second consecutive year from the royal family's Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle, as King Charles III made a public appearance despite his ongoing health challenges.
The annual Easter Mattins service at St. George's Chapel drew senior members of the royal family, including Queen Camilla, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, and Sarah Ferguson. Prince Andrew, who stepped back from public duties in 2019 and was stripped of military affiliations in 2022, also attended.
King Charles, wearing a dark-blue suit and light-blue tie, arrived with Queen Camilla, who wore a coordinated pale-blue coat dress and matching hat. The monarch's presence followed his own cancer diagnosis earlier this year, for which he is still undergoing treatment.
The Prince and Princess of Wales remained at their country home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk, according to The Guardian. No formal explanation was given for their absence. Last year, the couple missed Easter as Kate was undergoing preventive chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer, which she later confirmed was in remission.
In a September statement, the Princess of Wales, 43, wrote on X, "It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal."
While the couple's continued absence has fueled speculation about the pace of their return to public life, Kate emphasized her intention to resume royal duties in 2025, writing, "I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead."
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew's presence at the service again drew attention following recent scrutiny surrounding his previous communications with a Chinese businessman flagged by U.K. authorities. He reportedly chose to skip the royal family's Christmas gathering last December following advice from his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and daughter Princess Beatrice.
Representatives for the Waleses and Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the family's absence from Sunday's service.
