Kate Middleton and Prince William hold essential roles within the British royal family, yet they sometimes opt to spend holidays away from William’s relatives.
On April 17th of this year, it was announced that they would not be joining the rest of the royal family for Easter celebrations. Instead, the Prince and Princess of Wales chose to spend a quiet holiday weekend at their countryside residence in Norfolk, accompanied by their three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. Buckingham Palace had previously shared that King Charles, Queen Camilla, and other senior royals would attend the traditional Easter Mattins service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on Sunday, April 20th.
This service has long been a cherished royal tradition, acting as a focal point for the family’s Easter festivities. Prince William first participated in this tradition back in 1987 when he was just four years old, walking hand in hand with his mother, Princess Diana, and cousin Peter Phillips while dressed in a robin’s egg blue coat—a touching memory from his early years within the royal fold.
William and Kate were married in 2011, but many may be surprised to learn that they did not attend the royal family's Easter service until six years later. In 2014, during an official tour of Australia and New Zealand, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrated Easter by attending a service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney. Their young son, Prince George, was not with them, underscoring their effort to manage royal duties while nurturing a private family life and providing their children with a sense of normalcy.
The following year, in 2015, they missed the Easter gathering in Windsor, where Queen Elizabeth led the traditional service. Kate’s absence was likely due to her battle with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness that she experienced during her pregnancies. At the time, she was just weeks away from giving birth to Princess Charlotte, and her health understandably took precedence.
By 2017, the Duke and Duchess joined the royal family once more for the Easter Mattins service, a significant moment in their public life as a couple. Kate’s graceful curtsy as Queen Elizabeth passed by reflected her deep respect for the monarchy and its traditions. That moment was widely interpreted as a sign of their growing integration into royal customs after years of carefully balancing personal values with public expectations.
In April 2018, they attended the Easter service again, which marked Kate’s final public appearance before giving birth to Prince Louis later that month. The occasion emphasized their commitment to upholding royal traditions even amid the significant changes brought about by a growing family.
They continued this pattern in 2019 by attending the Easter service alongside the royal family. However, the tradition was interrupted in 2020 and 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of most public gatherings, including royal events. When the service resumed in 2022, William and Kate returned, this time with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who made their debut at the event. It was a joyful occasion that symbolized a return to normal life and highlighted the importance of family unity.
In 2023, Prince Louis joined the family at the Easter Mattins service for the first time, creating a memorable image of the Wales family dressed in coordinated shades of blue. Their unified appearance captured the attention of royal fans and the media, offering a visual reminder of their close family bond and shared commitment to tradition.
However, in 2024, the family was notably absent from the Easter celebrations. This decision came shortly after Kate publicly revealed that she was undergoing treatment for cancer. Understandably, she took a step back from public life to focus on her recovery. In September, she shared that she had completed chemotherapy, and by January, she joyfully announced that she was in remission. Her journey was a testament to her resilience and strength, as well as to the unwavering support of her family during such a difficult period.
While King Charles, now 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, are expected to lead the royal family’s Easter service this year, it's worth noting that they, too, have occasionally chosen not to participate in the event in the past. During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, the couple often spent Easter in Scotland, away from the traditional Windsor gathering. This history of selective attendance illustrates the evolving nature of royal traditions and the flexibility allowed to accommodate personal circumstances.
Ultimately, although Kate and William are prominent figures within the monarchy, their decisions around holiday celebrations reflect a thoughtful balance between royal duty and family priorities. As they continue to navigate their complex roles, they remain committed to creating lasting memories with their children while honoring the long-standing customs that define royal life.
