King Charles III Leads Royal Family at Easter Service Amid Prince Andrew's Absence

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the royal family at the Easter Matins service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on April 5, 2026, in the first public gathering of the family since the February arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Catherine, Princess of Wales, joined her husband Prince William and their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — at the service, marking her first appearance at the Windsor Easter gathering since her cancer diagnosis in early 2024. The Easter Matins was also attended by Prince Edward and Anne, the Princess Royal, alongside her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. The Dean of Windsor, Christopher Cocksworth, greeted Charles and Camilla as they arrived at the chapel. After the service, the King and Queen wished members of the gathered crowd a happy Easter, with Camilla receiving a posy of flowers.

Andrew's arrest casts a long shadow over Windsor Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the King's younger brother, was absent from the service following his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, an allegation linked to his association with the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew, who has been stripped of his royal titles and now resides on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged. His former wife Sarah Ferguson was also absent. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, did not attend either, though sources indicated the decision was made with the King's agreement and understanding, and that the two women had made other arrangements for the holiday. A royal source told Reuters the decision to miss the service was the princesses' own choice. Beatrice and Eugenie, who retain their titles as princesses, had been present alongside the family at the Christmas service at Sandringham and are expected to attend future family celebrations. The BBC described the assembled family as appearing in a "slightly reduced" configuration.

Kate's return signals a new chapter after illness The attendance of Catherine, Princess of Wales, drew particular attention as a symbolic moment for the family. William and Catherine had last attended the Windsor Easter service in 2023. In 2024, the event took place shortly after Catherine publicly announced her cancer diagnosis and disclosed she had begun preventive chemotherapy. In 2025, the Wales family chose to spend the Easter holiday in Norfolk rather than attend the Windsor gathering. Catherine wore an ivory-white ensemble of a skirt and jacket complemented by a hat with floral details, while Queen Camilla chose a red wool coat-dress and wore a brooch that had belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The family's return to the public Easter service was widely noted as a display of continuity and stability for the monarchy. St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle has served as a site of royal worship and ceremony for centuries, hosting weddings, funerals, and seasonal services for the British royal family. The Easter Matins service is among the most prominent fixtures in the royal religious calendar. The chapel gained renewed global attention in 2018 when it hosted the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's association with Jeffrey Epstein became a major public controversy following a 2019 BBC interview in which he addressed the allegations, and he subsequently stepped back from royal duties. He reached an out-of-court financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.

Epstein survivors urge King to act during U.S. state visit King Charles is scheduled to travel to the United States for a state visit from April 27 to 30, 2026, where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump and address Congress. On the day before the Easter service, the family of Virginia Giuffre — who had accused Epstein of trafficking her to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17 — urged the King to meet with survivors of Epstein's alleged crimes during the trip. The family noted that the visit coincides with the anniversary of Giuffre's death. Andrew has consistently denied having any recollection of meeting Giuffre and denied all allegations against him. The state visit proceeds despite the ongoing legal and reputational pressures surrounding the King's brother. Charles did not deliver a public Easter message this year, a departure from previous practice. Separately, Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold that position, delivered her first Easter sermon at Canterbury Cathedral on the same day.

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