Prince William and Princess Kate will miss the annual Easter Sunday service at Windsor this year. They have made the decision to spend the festive season as a family at their home in Anmer Hall, Norfolk. This decision is especially welcome as the family gets ready to send their three kids back to in-person school next week.
On March 27, Prince William joined a public campaign in Aberdeen. During the trip he dropped in on some of the first houses built under his Homewards program. The purpose of this program is to end homelessness and underscore the Prince’s dedication to solving pressing social challenges. His trip to Aberdeen will be his last public engagement before the Easter recess.
Recent Royal Engagements
Chief among them are the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have been extremely visible and engaged in royal duties and engagements. On March 17, they marched with the Irish Guards at the London St Patrick’s Day parade. After appearing for each of the past five years in the Easter Sunday service, this year’s absence is even more pronounced. The royal family has never been one to overlook Easter Sunday service. Having been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic, this event has taken on even more importance in recent years.
By comparison, this will be King Charles and Queen Camilla’s first Easter Sunday service. Last year was a landmark time for the King. It was his first big public appearance since receiving his cancer diagnosis. The King was present for the service at Windsor. That begins a new tradition for him and the Queen, both of whom took their jobs in 1952.
Family Time at Anmer Hall
In a welcome move indicating that they are prioritizing family time, Prince William and Princess Kate are reportedly going to spend the Easter weekend at Anmer Hall. This decision allows them to enjoy a quiet holiday together with their children: Prince George, 11; Princess Charlotte, 9; and Prince Louis, 6. The children were due to return to Lambrook School in Berkshire after the holiday.
The family’s decision underscores a new priority for more royals to find a better balance between public work and time with their young families. During his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, King Charles frequently spent the Easter period at Birkhall in Scotland. This latest decision by Prince William and Princess Kate shows that they are willing to prioritize their family first, even while serving with royal duty.
