Kate and William ‘make major change to Easter plans’ in break from royal tradition

The Prince and Princess of Wales will skip the traditional Easter gathering at Windsor Castle this year.

William and Kate will instead stay with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at their home in Norfolk.

William told the King he will miss the annual gathering this year. Charles will be joined by several senior royals, including the Queen.   

‘They are choosing to spend time together as a family before the children go back to school,’ a source close to the family told the Mirror. 

The Waleses did not attend the service last year as the Princess of Wales was undergoing cancer treatment. 

The King agreed to this, the source added.

Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are likely to attend the Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

Last year, Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson attended to the surprise of many royal watchers.  

It was the first time the Duchess of York had attended the service since she divorced Andrew in 1996.

It comes as King Charles today made a light-hearted joke about his health as he returned to the Royal Maundy Service at Durham Cathedral after missing last year due to his cancer diagnosis.

The monarch, 76, who issued a special Easter message earlier this morning, appeared in high spirits as he arrived alongside Queen Camilla at the Cathedral in the northeast of England.

Speaking to crowds afterwards, Charles joked that ‘it was all mirrors’ when a well-wisher said he was looking well while he and the Queen marked Maundy Thursday paying respects to Second World War heroes and the Queen Mother.

The King and Queen went on a ‘walkabout’ outside the cathedral as hundreds gathered to cheer them on their way.

Pat Johnson, 54, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, attracted Charles’s attention after bringing 18-month-old Pembrokeshire corgi Lilibet to the stand outside the service.

She said afterwards: ‘He asked if she was friendly and he asked me what her name was.

‘I said I named her after your mother and said “you look well” and he said “you are very kind but it’s all mirrors”.’

A group of several dozen campaigners from anti-monarchists Republic were shouting slogans through a megaphone from a designated protest area. 

The King met attendees outside the Cathedral before entering alongside Camilla and other attendees.

Camilla, 77, who last year stepped in for Charles at the service amid his cancer treatment, looked elegant in a dark green coat dress by Anna Valentine and a striking velvet hat in a matching shade by Phillip Tracey. 

Once inside the Cathedral, members of the Church presented Their Majesties with a small flower bouquet before joining the procession through the nave.

During the service, the King presented the Maundy recipients – 76 men and 76 women – with two purses, one red and one white, containing Maundy Money.

The white purse holds a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins, and the red purse contains a £5 coin commemorating The Queen Mother and a 50p coin featuring stories of WWII.

The Royal Maundy gifts recognise recipients’ outstanding Christian service and their efforts in making a difference in the lives of people in their local communities.

The King made two trips around the cathedral during the hour-long ceremony presenting the coins and pausing to speak to each worthy recipient.

The ceremony dates back to the 13th century and attracted a small protest by anti-monarchy group Republic were heard shouting ‘Down with the crown’ and ‘Not my King’ outside.

This week, the Princess of Wales revealed she made a secret visit to the Lake District to meet with Scouts getting their Naturalist Badge last month.

Kate, 43, who is Joint President of Scouts met with Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields near the shores of Lake Windermere where they spent time with a group of Scouts aged between 10 and 15.

The pair have now released a short film discussing the importance of the natural world and its ability to support our health and wellbeing.

Speaking in the clip, the future Queen said she found it ‘very spiritual,’ to be reconnect with nature and discussed  her ‘intense emotional reconnection’ with the environment. 

Kate and Dwayne also talked about how spending time in nature can help people to deepen connections with themselves and each other while building skills of empathy, resilience and a sense of belonging. 

The two also discussed the impact being in nature can have on young people in building their confidence and skills for later life. 

‘Not everyone has that same relationship perhaps with nature, but it is so therefore meaningful for me as a place to balance and find a sort of sense of peace and reconnection in what is otherwise a very busy world,’ Kate says. 

‘I think it’s really important for young people to have access to nature because it’s a space where they can push themselves, they can challenge themselves, they learn leadership skills, spend time making friends and those life-long really great memories that we all hold onto,’ Dwayne added.

‘And I think if we can do that, we’ll build up a generation who is passionate about our natural spaces and passionate about protecting them as well.’ 

The Scouts regularly enable 450,000 young people to engage with and experience wellbeing in nature, a cause which is very close to The Princess’ heart. 

Taking part in camping, hiking, canoeing and climbing gives young people the ability to develop their team working, leadership and planning skills and helps them become more resilient and supportive of each other. 

Reflecting on the film, Dwayne said: ‘In an increasingly complex world digital technology has its place, but the few hours we spent in the hills without screens was magical: we are often at our best in the outdoors, and I want more young people to experience outdoor adventures like this for themselves. 

‘Outdoor adventures can build the vital skills young people need for the rest of their lives, they hugely benefit health and wellbeing, and boost friendships. And with the help of more adult volunteers, we hope to get more young people out into nature in the future.’ 

The Princess has been Joint President of Scouts since 2020. 

This was the first time she had met Dwayne Fields, who took on his role as Chief Scout from Bear Grylls in September 2024. .