Each year, the British royal family gather together to celebrate Easter.
This year was no different, with many members of the royal family joining King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle for the traditional Easter service and sit-down lunch.
Scroll on to find out everything you need to know about the British royal family’s 2026 Easter service.
Where was the royal family’s 2026 Easter service held?
King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Easter Matins Service at St. George’s Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday, as is the tradition.
They were accompanied by other members of the royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, the Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke of Edinburgh and his son James, Earl of Wessex, and Peter Phillips and fiancée Harriet Sperling.
Were Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie in attendance the royal family’s Easter service?
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie did not attend the Easter service at St. George’s Chapel this year.
The daughters of ousted royals Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson reportedly made “alternative plans” for the day. The Palace and the sisters reportedly made the joint decision that they would not attend what is arguablt one of the most significant events in the royal calendar.
The initial news of their absence prior to the day came after an insider revealed the sisters will also not be attending Royal Ascot in June.
“I’ve spoken to my friend who works at Ascot, and they said the girls have been told they can’t be there this year,” an insider told the Daily Mail. “Beatrice has taken it the hardest. She’s been completely blindsided by all of this.”
Another report in Hello! claimed the sisters have been invited but may be hesitant to attend such a large public event, given the intense public and media scrutiny surrounding their parents at the moment.
“The question is, would they want to go to a public event of that nature?” an alleged friend told the publication “They will get criticism whether they go or not – and not just that event. They just can’t win. Bea has found the scrutiny very hard, especially the strain of the past few weeks. It has felt as though things have been in free-fall, and she’s being hammered and bullied by commentators.
“Bea is keeping calm and carrying on. She learnt a lot from her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. This is a family in turmoil, but Bea is working hard; the juggle of full-time work and being a parent is her main priority, in order to keep herself mentally strong and her life moving.”
Who attended the British royal’s Easter 2026 event?
Joining King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Easter Matins Service were several senior members, including Prince William and Princess Catherine with their three children, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.
However, not in attendance was Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise. According to the Daily Express, Sophie reportedly had plans to attend the event before dropping out at the last minute because she was “under the weather.” Another source informed the publication that Lady Louise was still in classes at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
What happens at the British royal family’s Easter?
After the service at St. George’s Chapel, the royal family usually enjoy Easter lunch, and perhaps an Easter egg hunt, at Windsor Castle.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady told OK! magazine in 2020 that roast lamb was usually on the menu for lunch.
“We’d go straight into the main course – a traditional roast lamb with seasonal vegetables,” he revealed at the time.
“They’d also have a compound salad served in a kidney dish attached to the plate – just some lettuce and cucumber with a little mint or some grated carrot and coriander.
“Afterwards, there is usually a cheese and fruit course, which will include Windsor Cheese made at the nearby Windsor Dairy.”
The late Queen Elizabeth was a huge fan of dark chocolate, with Darren revealing the former monarch would give it up for Lent and then enjoy a treat of Bendicks Bittermints after lunch.
