Prince Harry will soon be immersed in creating cherished memories with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, during the Easter weekend at their residence in California.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, his father, King Charles, will participate in the annual Easter Mattins Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday. This weekend holds particular significance for Harry, as he had previously mentioned in his memoir, “Spare,” that his father always attached importance to Easter.
In one chapter, where he delves into the strained relationship between himself and his brother, Prince William, the Duke of Sussex recounted a moment when the Prince and Princess of Wales were disappointed over “Easter presents.” “Willy and Kate were apparently upset that we hadn’t given them Easter presents,” he wrote. “Easter presents? Was that a thing? Willy and I had never exchanged Easter presents. Pa always made a big deal about Easter, sure, but that was Pa.”
Later in his memoir, Prince Harry fondly reminisced about the “simple Easter Sundays” when he returned to St. George’s Chapel for his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
“When we got to St. George’s Chapel, amid the roar of dozens of bagpipes, I thought of all the big occasions I’d experienced under that roof. Grandpa’s farewell, my wedding.
“Even the ordinary times, simple Easter Sundays, felt especially poignant, the whole family alive and together. Suddenly I was wiping my eyes. Why now? I wondered. Why? The following afternoon Meg and I left for America.”
The British royal family typically gathers in Windsor for the Easter holiday. The Easter Sunday service occurs within the secluded chapel of St. George’s Chapel, a historic 14th-century edifice situated in the Lower Ward of the castle.
Crowds often assemble here to welcome the royals before and after the service, with many local children presenting bouquets to the ladies in attendance. Over the years, Queen Elizabeth II has been joined by both immediate and extended members of her family for the Easter Service, including her grandchildren Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, and Peter Phillips, along with their respective families.
However, this year, Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their children, will be absent from the Sunday church service as they opt for private Easter celebrations. This decision comes amidst Kate’s recent disclosure of her cancer diagnosis, which was uncovered during post-operative tests following her significant abdominal surgery last Friday.
