Pragmatic Charles eager to get on with it

King Charles’ nephew has said the monarch is in “good spirits”, but “frustrated” his recovery is taking longer than expected.

“He is in good spirits, but ultimately he is hugely frustrated,” Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, 46, told Sky News. “He’s frustrated he can’t get on and do everything he wants to be able to do.”

But Mr Phillips said his royal uncle was “pragmatic” and knew he must “focus on himself” for a while to get better.

“I think the overriding message is he is obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality and he’s probably frustrated that his recovery is taking a little longer than he would want it to.”

King Charles is “hoping” to lead a smaller royal family gathering on Easter Sunday at

St George’s Chapel in grounds of Windsor Castle.

Reports emerged that Charles comforted his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton, as they both recovered from surgery earlier this year in London Clinic. According to The Times, the King, who was being treated for an enlarged prostate, left his hospital bed to visit Kate as she recovered from major abdominal surgery.

The Princess of Wales has pulled out of the Easter service the after revealing she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The King, 75, has recorded a special Easter message of hope, to be broadcast on Thursday at the Royal Maundy Service, which Charles has been advised not to attend. Camilla will lead the royals at the Worcester Cathedral service.

“(The King) is hoping to attend a smaller scale Easter service and family gathering,” a royal source said.