This morning the British Royal Family turned out for an Easter service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor – the same venue at which everyone will be on May 19 for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. While the groom and bride-to-be weren’t on hand today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex were.
…Except, not everyone was there by the time the Queen turned up, who is meant to arrive last. William and Kate, who are spending Easter this year with Kate’s parents in Bucklebury, showed up a few minutes too late to make the receiving line.
VIDEO: #kate & #princewilliam were late to St George’s Chapel for the Easter service: perhaps they got held up in roadworks on M4 from Bucklebury, where they’re spending Easter with Kate’s parents. 🎥@RoyalReporter who is on the scene! pic.twitter.com/xZbJw5yc3r
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) April 1, 2018
The rest of the family, sans the Queen, did the traditional walk to the chapel of which the Cambridges were a part last year. As you can see in the video below, Princess Anne was joined by her husband, Timothy Laurence. Her son, Peter, was joined by his wife, Autumn. Prince Edward could be seen walking with his young son, James. After a bit of gap, you can see that Edward’s wife, Sophie, is walking with their daughter, Louise. They are trailed by Beatrice.
Notably, Eugenie was joined by her fiance, Jack Brooksbank. They will also marry in the same venue this October. Below you can see the women curtsying as the Queen arrives.
VIDEO: Princess Anne, princess Eugenie & fiancé Jack Brooksbank, Autumn & Peter Philips, Zara, Edward, Sophie, Louise (who seemed to wearing her first heels), James & Beatrice (struggling in her heels) all arrive at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, for Easter service with the Queen pic.twitter.com/7tYZFAXy0Q
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) April 1, 2018
And here you can see the Windsors lined up to greet the Queen. Who doesn’t love a good curtsy on Easter, all?
VIDEO: The Queen always arrives last, as monarch, at the Easter church service at St George’s but she seemed to be looking for #princeWilliam & #kate who were late. Some excellent curtsies from the royal ladies. 🎥@RoyalReporter is on the scene pic.twitter.com/zUvPc4x4Hu
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) April 1, 2018
Andrews noted that when the Queen arrived she hesitated getting out of the car, seemingly questioning where William and Kate were. Yikes. But hey, we’ve all been there.
Zara Tindall, who is expecting her second child this summer, turned up wearing a blue coat by Seraphine, a maternity label that Kate also leans on heavily.
As for Kate, she wore a brown Catherine Walker coat dress that we first saw for the St. Patrick’s Day Irish Guards engagement in 2015 when she was pregnant with Princess Charlotte. You may note, as well, that the Balenciaga earrings she’s wearing are the same pair that she wore in Paris last year.
I have to say, every time the family gets together for these big events, weddings and babies are certainly front and center. It’s fun to think that this time next year, Harry and Eugenie will both have been married and there will be two more little Windsors. My guess is that the we won’t see Kate again until she’s had her baby, so if nothing else, today likely marks our last time seeing her pregnant for the forseeable future!
As for who wasn’t there today, the Duke of Edinburgh stayed home due to ongoing problems with his hip. Hopefully he makes a swift recovery and we see him out and about soon enough. I’m not sure where the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were, but they are due to be in Australia in a few days, so that may explain it. On Thursday, a video message filmed by Charles to mark the holiday was released – you can view it here:
“My heart goes out to all who this day, whatever their beliefs, are being persecuted on religious grounds.”
On Good Friday, The Prince of Wales sends a message of support to persecuted Christians around the world.
View the full message here: https://t.co/2cZu5wGVGH pic.twitter.com/EUYNj3RPGC
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 30, 2018
And lest I forget, Happy Easter!