Royal family’s Easter plans amid health crisis

New details have been revealed on how the British royal family will spend Easter as King Charles and Princess Catherine battle cancer.

King Charles has given his Easter message. Picture: Supplied

King Charles, who is being treated for cancer, will attend the Easter Sunday Service at St. George’s Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle.

He will be joined by several senior royals, including his wife Queen Camilla.

Charles and Camilla are expected to walk to and from St Chapel entering through the Galilee Porch.

He plans to wave to and greet a small crowd from a distance if the weather is appropriate and will sit with Camilla separately from the congregation to minimise the chances of catching an infection.

The service will see fewer royals than usual and is expected to include Prince Andrew and his daughters but it is unclear if his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will be there.

Anne, the Princess Royal and her family will attend as well as the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie.

Prince Andrew and his daughters are expected to attend the Easter service and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson may even make an appearance. Picture: Getty Images

In the wake of her cancer announcement, Princess Catherine, Prince William, and their three children will not attend the service. Instead, William and Catherine will spend the holiday with their children as the Princess of Wales continues to rest and recuperate.

The event is a firm fixture in the royal calendar and is usually attended by many royal family members who are often seen walking to church together on Easter Sunday for the Easter Mattins Service.

Although a non-working member of the royal family, Zara Tindall is also set to miss this weekend’s celebrations. The 42-year-old daughter of Anne will be in Nottinghamshire to compete in a three-day equestrian event.

Zara Tindall will be competing in a three-day equestrian event and won’t attend Easter with the royal family. Picture: Jason Alden

Even though this year’s Easter celebrations will involve a scaled down royal family, the occasion is still expected to be fun.

Darren McGrady, who was personal chef to the royal family from 1982 to 1993 and then for Princess Diana until her death in 1997, told TIME magazine the royals enjoy freshly made hot cross buns on Good Friday for afternoon tea. In the past, the royal Instagram account has even featured preparations for making the buns.

He revealed Queen Elizabeth observed the Christian tradition of eating fish on the Friday and dined usually on a hake fish supper.

After the walk to St. George’s Chapel, and the Sunday service, McGrady said the traditional Easter lunch usually involved as many as 30 royals seated around the table, and the menu was “nearly always” a roast leg of lamb usually with red currant jelly, followed by a “huge selection” of decorated chocolate eggs.

Dean of Windsor with Queen Elizabeth II after the Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018. The Queen was a “chocoholic” says her former chef. Picture: Getty Images

McGrady said Queen Elizabeth II was a “chocoholic” with a penchant for dark chocolate, something she would give up during her Lent fast and looked forward to enjoying on Easter.

“King Charles, however, is not a huge fan of chocolate at all,” he added.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun that Easter traditions would carry on under King Charles, observing the traditions he learned as a child.

Sunday’s appearance will mark the first major event for Charles, 75, since he was diagnosed with cancer in February.

CHARLES’ TOUCHING EASTER MESSAGE

It comes as Charles released a poignant Easter message, thanking those who “extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need”.

The monarch’s Easter message, which was recorded in mid-March – marks his first public comments since Catherine revealed she was receiving treatment for an unspecified cancer.

The touching message was broadcast at a Royal Maundy service in Worcester Cathedral on Thursday local time ahead of the Easter weekend.

King Charles spoke about “friendship” in his Easter message. Picture: Supplied

The King did not attend the service. Queen Camilla was instead present, where she handed out Maundy money.

Queen Camilla was all smiles as she stood in for Charles at the service.

Charles spoke of his “great sadness” at missing the traditional Maundy Thursday service.

In his message, the King reaffirmed his coronation pledge “not to be served, but to serve” with “my whole heart”.

While the King didn’t mention Catherine’s personal health struggles, his speech highlighted leaning on loved ones during times of hardship.

Queen Camilla smiles as she arrived for the Royal Maudy Service where she distributes the Maundy money to 75 men and 75 women. Picture: AFP

“We need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need.”

During the Maundy service, Camilla handed out ceremonial coins to 75 men and 75 women — the number reflecting the King’s age.

King Charles said that the 150 recipients of the Maundy Money “are wonderful examples of such kindness; of going way beyond the call of duty and of giving so much of their lives to the service of others in their communities”.

Originally published as Royal family’s Easter plans amid health crisis