The royal family upholds their own Easter traditions, much like many households worldwide. While King Charles traditionally hosts the family at Sandringham for Christmas and Balmoral during the summer, they gather at Windsor Castle for the Christian holiday.
Many of these customs remain private, but this year, all eyes will be on the Easter Sunday church service. Charles, aged 75, will join the Queen and other royal members at the annual Easter Mattins Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
This marks his first notable public appearance since his cancer diagnosis announcement in February. However, due to ongoing treatment, the service will see fewer attendees from the royal family.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children will also spend Easter privately, foregoing church attendance, particularly in light of Kate’s recent cancer diagnosis revealed after major abdominal surgery.
The Easter Sunday service occurs within the private chapel of St. George’s Chapel, a 14th-century structure nestled in the Lower Ward of the castle. Spectators often gather to welcome the royals before and after the service, with local children presenting bouquets to many of the ladies.
In past years, Queen Elizabeth II has been accompanied by immediate and extended family members, including her grandchildren and their families. Arrivals at the service typically follow reverse precedence, with the most senior members arriving last. Notably, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly arrived after the Queen in 2018, an incident attributed to traffic delays.
Following the church service, the royals typically return to Windsor Castle for a traditional roast lamb lunch. While it’s unclear if the entire royal family participates in an Easter egg hunt, such events are commonly held at royal residences throughout the country for visitors to enjoy.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex was featured in her Netflix docuseries organizing an Easter egg hunt for her son Archie at their Montecito home, alongside Prince Harry and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, during her pregnancy with Lilibet.
Preceding Easter Sunday, King Charles attends the Maundy Thursday service, during which he distributes special silver coins to pensioners from across the UK. Recipients, numbering 75 men and 75 women to align with the King’s age, are nominated by their local dioceses for their contributions to the church and community.
