King Charles appears in public at Easter Sunday church service
King Charles graciously greeted well-wishers during his inaugural significant public appearance since his cancer diagnosis.
Following the Easter Sunday service in Windsor, where he was accompanied by Queen Camilla, the King engaged with the crowd and warmly shook hands. The absence of the Prince and Princess of Wales was notable, as Catherine continued her cancer treatment.
Despite his diagnosis, the King has maintained some level of work, although all his engagements thus far have been held in private. Earlier in the week, he expressed his profound sadness at missing the traditional Maundy Thursday service, which Queen Camilla attended in his place.
The King’s presence at the Easter morning church service at St George’s Chapel is viewed as a positive indicator of his health. However, it is understood by the BBC that this does not signify a full return to public duties but rather a cautious initial step back into public life.
Arriving for the service with Queen Camilla, the 75-year-old King was seen responding to a member of the public who shouted “Happy Easter!” with a wave and the reply, “And to you,” before entering the chapel.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, their son James, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of York were all seen arriving just before the King and Queen.
Last year marked the King’s first Easter Sunday service as monarch.
The King has not been at public events this year. His cancer was detected while he was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate in January. While the type of cancer has not been disclosed, Buckingham Palace has confirmed it is not prostate cancer.
He attended church in Sandringham in February, shortly after his diagnosis. Well-wishers gathered as the King walked into the church, which is on his private estate in Norfolk, but were not allowed to enter the grounds which are closed to the public until Easter.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Princess of Wales revealed in a video announcement that she is undergoing preventative treatment for cancer.
Catherine had abdominal surgery in January, when it was not known there was any cancer, but subsequent tests found it had been present.
There is no early return to official duties expected for the princess.
Neither the King’s or Catherine’s type of cancer has been revealed.
The diagnoses have depleted the ranks of working senior royals.
Queen Camilla has led the line for the royals for the past few months, increasingly carrying out trips on her own that would once have been the responsibility of her husband.
Prince William has kept up projects such as Earthshot and Homewards, but is likely to limit his travels to stay close to home and protect some kind of normal family life.
It is not known how future key dates in the royal calendar, such as Trooping the Colour in June, will be represented by members of the Royal Family, or when the King will return to public engagements.
