King Charles III, accompanied by Queen Camilla, attended the Easter church service on Sunday at Windsor Castle, taking a moment to acknowledge well-wishers. This marked his first significant public appearance since revealing his cancer diagnosis last month. Despite ongoing treatment, the 75-year-old monarch has maintained his duties, including meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but has suspended public engagements on medical advice.
The king’s presence at St. George’s Chapel, a familiar setting on the Windsor Castle grounds, aimed to restore a sense of normalcy to a royal family grappling with multiple health crises. Princess Catherine, who announced her own cancer diagnosis just over a week ago, and her husband Prince William did not join the family at the service. Catherine, who underwent abdominal surgery in January, has not made a public appearance since Christmas Day.
Despite his illness, King Charles has been actively engaging with dignitaries and religious leaders, but has avoided larger gatherings. Notably, he was absent from the traditional Maundy Thursday service, where he typically distributes special “Maundy Money” coins. In a recorded message for the service, Charles expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support during this challenging time.
While Buckingham Palace has indicated Charles’ eagerness to resume a regular schedule, details regarding his cancer type, prognosis, and treatment remain undisclosed. Recent rumors circulating on Russian social media falsely claimed his death, prompting British embassies in Moscow and Kyiv to denounce the misinformation as “fake news.”