Prince William and Princess Kate are planning to celebrate their first Easter without Queen Elizabeth by upholding one of the late monarch’s holiday traditions.
Kensington Palace confirmed to People that the Prince and Princess of Wales will be attending the royal family’s traditional Easter Sunday church service this weekend held at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. This marks the first time they will be attending those services under their new titles. Last year, the royal couple brought along their two eldest children, 9-year-old Prince George and 7-year-old Princess Charlotte, for the occasion, the first time either had attended. While their youngest, 4-year-old Prince Louis, did not attend that Easter service, he did make his first walk to church later that year at Sandringham on Christmas day. William and Kate have not yet confirmed if they will be joined by their three children this year.
St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle also holds special significance to the royal family as it’s likely the last time they were gathered there was to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022. Following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey and committal service at St. George’s Chapel, the monarch was buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. She was laid to rest alongside her husband, Prince Philip, her younger sister Princess Margaret, her mother Queen Elizabeth I, and her father, King George VI.
In the midst of these sad milestones, the royal family is also gearing up for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla next month. On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace released new details about the event, as well as a new portrait of Charles and Camilla, and a first look at the official invitation. They also confirmed the role Prince George will play in the service. The palace revealed that the second in line to the throne will perform the duties of Page of Honor along with Camilla’s grandsons, Freddy Parker Bowles, Gus Lopes, and Louis Lopes. In a statement, Buckingham Palace announced, “Throughout the coronation service on 6th May, their majesties will each be attended by four Pages of Honor. The Pages will form part of the procession through the Nave of Westminster Abbey.” They went on to explain that “The King’s Pages of Honour will be His Royal Highness Prince George of Wales, Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Master Nicholas Barclay and Master Ralph Tollemache,” while, “The Queen Consort’s Pages of Honor will be Her Majesty’s grandsons, Master Gus and Master Louis Lopes and Master Freddy Parker Bowles, and Her Majesty’s great-nephew, Master Arthur Elliot.”
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