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William and Kate lead the royals at Windsor Easter Sunday service and are joined by the King and Queen

 

William and Kate lead the royals at Windsor Easter Sunday service and are joined by the King and Queen - after exiled Andrew walks his dogs and Fergie, Beatrice and Eugenie stay away.

The King and Queen have led a unified Royal Family at church for their traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor.

Charles and Camilla were this year joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.

Meanwhile, the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who did not attend today's service, yesterday cut a lonely figure as he was pictured walking his dogs on the Sandringham estate.

Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, were also present at the Easter gathering, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh and his son James, Earl of Wessex, 18.

The Duchess of Edinburgh was expected to attend but was 'under the weather', while her daughter, Lady Louise, was busy with her studies.

Notable by their absence at the Easter Matins service at St George's Chapel, Windsor, were Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

With the agreement of the King, they have made alternative plans and will miss the traditional gathering.

Sources have maintained they will join the Royal Family at future occasions, but in the current circumstances it was decided that they would stay away.

Senior royals were led by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children down on foot from Windsor Castle, despite the blustery conditions.

The large – and notably young – party chatted happily as they walked.

Kate wore an off-white ensemble of skirt, smart jacket and leafy hat, while William and the boys wore dark blue suits and ties. 

Princess Charlotte, sporting a pretty dress under a warm camel-colours coat with a brown velvet collar and cuffs, looked delighted and waved to the crowd. Louis walked proudly beside her.

Also in the group were The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, with The Duke of Edinburgh and his son James, Earl of Wessex, 18.

Peter Phillips and his fiancée, Harriet Sperling, were also in attendance with his daughters, Savannah and Isla.

And for the first time, in a sign of the new, blended Royal Family, Ms Sperling's daughter, Georgina, 13, was also in attendance with her new step-sisters to be.

At the rear of the group were Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband, Daniel.

Finally, the King and Queen were driven down in the State Bentley and arrived in front of the castle to a shout of 'God save the King' from the crowd. 

Camilla was sporting a red wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare and a hat by Philip Treacy with a brooch which had belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles looked full of good spirits as he warmly greeted his family despite the chill winds, sweetly touching his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, on the shoulder.

After the hour-long service - during which prayers were said for the Royal Family and the National Anthem sung - the royal party moved from the chapel to the deanery for tea with the Dean of Windsor, The Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth.

After around 20 minutes, Charles appeared alongside Camilla, who was presented with a beautiful posy by Kit Bannan, 10, a member of the Windsor Castle community.

The King and Queen's State Bentley had drawn up outside with no plans for a walkabout given how cold and windy it was, but the couple walked around it to undertake a shortened meet-and-greet given the cheers of the public waiting patiently outside the chapel.

Among them was Frank Gates, seven, from Egremont in Cumbria, who was smartly dressed in the uniform of the Coldstream Guards and proudly saluted his Colonel-in—Chief, the King.

Before their arrival he said: 'I really want to be in the Coldstream Guards when I am older.' Asked why, he said sweetly: 'Because they are second to none.'

Royal 'superfan' John Loughrey, from south London, said afterwards that His Majesty had spotted their flags: 'He said he had seen our flags and wished us happy Easter.'

As the car drew away, the other members of the royal party came up the steps, led by the Waleses, who all - children included - waved happily to well-wishers wishing them 'Happy Easter'.

As they walked back up the hill to the castle, Catherine could be seen giving her daughter, Charlotte, a proud hug, placing her arm around her shoulders and squeezing her.

They were followed by Princess Anne and her husband, then her granddaughter, Savannah and Isla Phillips, along with her soon-to-be step-sister, Georgina.

Peter Phillips and his fiancee Harriet, elegant in a sky blue spotted peplum jacket and skirt with a Jane Taylor hat and Kiki McDonough earrings, held hands as they walked back to the castle.


Tags: Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Louis, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan, Lilibet


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