The King has released his first video message since being diagnosed with cancer while Catherine has apologised for any confusion caused by a 'manipulated' image.
Video / NZ Herald
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles will attend the traditional Easter Matins church service in Windsor on Sunday.
Charles, accompanied by the Queen, will lead members of the royal family at the traditional service at St George’s Chapel.
The 75-year-old King has stepped back from public duties on medical advice as he undergoes cancer treatment in order to avoid the risks associated with large crowds.
The royal turnout on Easter Sunday will therefore be considerably smaller than usual, with only a handful of royals in attendance in order to minimise his contact with others, in an outing that has been described as “Easter Lite”.
The Palace said: “Their Majesties the King and Queen, accompanied by other members of the royal family, will attend the Easter Matins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Easter Sunday.”
King Charles III has released a statement sharing his "most heartfelt thanks" to the public for their support following his cancer diagnosis. Photo / Getty Images
Since then, he has been determined to maintain a public profile, reassuring the nation that his hand remains on the tiller and that he continues with his state duties.
As such, he has also recorded an audio message that will be played at the Royal Maundy Thursday service at Worcester Cathedral this week, when he will be represented by the Queen.
Camilla, 76, will distribute Maundy money on behalf of her husband, taking on the ancient custom for the first time. The King is unable to attend because of the large numbers that will be at the service.
Her video message was released just as Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, broke up from school.
The family have now retreated from the public eye for the school holidays as the prince and princess seek to protect their children from the media coverage surrounding her diagnosis.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, is undergoing chemotherapy. The video announcement came after weeks of speculation spread on social media about her whereabouts and health since she was hospitalized in January for unspecified abdominal surgery. Photo / Kensington Palace
In recent years, the Easter Matins service has seen almost as big a royal turnout as the traditional Christmas Day outing, with most senior royals photographed strolling through the grounds of Windsor Castle with various children in tow.
Last year, Prince Louis, then 4, captured the headlines as he joined his family at church for the first time, dressed smartly in a shirt and tie and clasping his mother’s hand.
The occasion marked one of the first large public gatherings of the royal family since the death of Elizabeth II in September 2022.
