Latest news:King and Queen attend Easter Sunday church service: read More

King Charles and Queen Camilla have attended a church service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle as part of their Easter celebrations.

The traditional Easter Matins service was held in the 15th Century chapel in Windsor, Berkshire.

Most other members of the Royal Family, including the Duke of York, were also present for the service – apart from the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, who spent the weekend on holiday in Norfolk.

Following the service, the King and Queen were wished a “Happy Easter” by those gathered outside, and the Queen received a bouquet from a young girl.

Prince Andrew arrived with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, in a car along with Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence.

Andrew missed the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham last year amid the controversy surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Princess Anne chatted at some length with the Dean of Windsor, the Right Rev Christopher Cocksworth outside, while Prince Andrew quickly walked inside for the service.

Sisters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were joined by their husbands, while the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived alongside their son, James.

As they walked to the church in front of crowds of royal fans, it became apparent that 17-year-old James is now noticeably taller than his father, Prince Edward.

Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned in November after facing increasing pressure to stand down over his failure to report prolific child abuser John Smyth. But his replacement has not yet been appointed.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, has also faced calls to resign over his handling of the case.

On Saturday, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales prayed for those caught up in “endless conflicts” and wars around the world in his Easter Vigil homily.

Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, said: “We pray for peace. We pray especially for those about whom it has been said, in recent times, that ‘all hell’ will be unleashed on them. May that never be so!”.