Greeting members of the public outside Windsor Castle, one well-wisher said: “Happy Easter Your Majesty. Never give in, keep going strong.” Glancing over at his wife, the King joked: “I just obey my instructions.”
Speaking to another member of the public, Charles asked if she had come to see the historic castle. “No, we’ve come to see you!” she told him, prompting the monarch to grin and say: “I am very touched.” Others told him, “We wish you well” and “Please hurry up and get well soon.”
He also encountered a royal supporter, Anne Daley, who was waving the Welsh national flag. She conveyed her wishes for the King’s swift recovery and requested him to extend her best regards to the Princess of Wales, currently undergoing preventive chemotherapy treatment.
He looked slightly bemused when Ms Daley told him “Camilla is 17 now”, before going on to explain that her dog, a King Charles Cavalier, shares the same name as his wife. “You’ll need a new one,” he joked.
Another lady, wrapped in a union flag, gave His Majesty a homemade get well soon card. “Thank you very much, that’s very kind. Did you make it?” he asked.
Charles and Camilla led the royal contingent in attending the annual Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Sunday morning. Buckingham Palace had previously announced that this year’s family gathering would be smaller than usual due to the King’s ongoing cancer treatment.
The couple were accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with their 16-year-old son James, Earl of Wessex, Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Laurence, and Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
During a brief visit to Northern Ireland last month, Queen Camilla also jokingly mentioned how she enjoys keeping her husband “in line”. While browsing the local produce at The Arcadia deli in Belfast, she was presented with a get well soon card by shop assistant Brenda Robb.
Taking the card with thanks, Camilla said: “He’s doing very well. He was very disappointed he couldn’t come.” Responding to a quip about men “not being the best patients,” she added: “I try to keep him in order.”
