King Charles has hardly appeared in public since his cancer diagnosis was announced. When he goes to church in Windsor on Easter Sunday, he is greeted with cheers. But there is also criticism.
The British King Charles (75) and his wife Queen Camilla (76) attended the Easter service in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. It was Charles’ first major public appearance since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February. The couple appeared smiling and waving as they entered the church in the grounds of Windsor Castle in the morning. When someone from a group of onlookers shouted “Happy Easter!” shouted, the king replied: “You too!”
Charles looked fit and in good spirits. He wore a dark coat and a blue tie with small ship motifs. Camilla came in a green outfit with a hat. The couple had traveled the short distance from their rooms in the castle to the chapel in the forecourt in a limousine. After a brief greeting from the clergy, they went into the church.
Cheers and applause for the king
“I have to be seen to be believed” is what Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II is said to have once said. True to this motto, after the service, Charles and Camilla stepped out into the inner courtyard of the castle, where they were greeted with cheers and applause. The two shook hands with some onlookers and chatted with people before getting back into the car.
Criticism over Prince Andrew’s participation
Other royals such as Charles’ sister Princess Anne (73) and her husband Timothy Laurence (69) as well as Prince Edward (60) and his wife Duchess Sophie (59) also came to the Easter service. Also there were Prince Andrew (64), who had fallen into disrepute because of his involvement in the Epstein abuse scandal, and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson (64), who also made her cancer diagnosis public last year.
Andrew’s presence drew criticism. “As many have suspected, Andrew’s withdrawal from many parts of public life was all about public relations, not standards of accountability,” said the head of the anti-monarchy organization Republic, Graham Smith, according to a statement.
Prince Andrew in Windsor
Andrew resigned from his public duties for the royal family in 2019 after allegations were made against him. Later he also had to renounce his military ranks and the address Royal Highness. Although he always denied any wrongdoing, in 2022 he agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement with the American Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of abusing her as a minor.
William and Kate are not there
Heir to the throne Prince William (41) and his wife Princess Kate (42) were not at the Easter service. Kate recently announced to the public in a very personal video message that she had been diagnosed with cancer following major abdominal surgery in January. She has now started preventive chemotherapy. Kate asked that her privacy and that of her family be respected.
According to reports, the couple had retreated to the country estate Anmer Hall in the eastern English county of Norfolk with their children Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8) and Prince Louis (5). There had previously been wild speculation on social media about Kate’s health.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
