The British royals had to celebrate their traditional Easter service this year without their most prominent representatives. Queen Elizabeth II had already canceled a few days ago – the almost 96-year-old is now increasingly absent from public events for health reasons. Prince Charles (73) was also absent from the Easter service, so Prince William (39) and Duchess Kate (40) led the royal guests.
According to reports, the fact that the royal family has to do without their head is to become the rule rather than the exception in the future. “We now have to assume that the Queen will not be present at events,” a source told the Daily Mail.
More about Queen Elizabeth II
The royal family is pursuing a new strategy
According to a new strategy, advisors to the monarch should only announce on the day of an event whether the Queen is coming or not. “Should Her Majesty appear, it will not be decided until that day and she will be accompanied by another member of the royal family,” the insider continued. In doing so, the royal family wants to avoid disappointments caused by short-term cancellations, which have recently occurred more frequently.
For the first time, William and Kate also brought their two oldest children – Prince George, 8, and Princess Charlotte, 6, to the service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor this Easter. The Cambridges missed the brief visit by Prince Harry (37) and his wife Duchess Meghan (40) to Windsor on Maundy Thursday because they were reportedly on vacation at the time. Williams and Harry’s relationship is still considered strained. (SDA/bsn)