The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Kate and Wills arrive late for Easter service
Queen joined by host of other royals, but Philip, Harry and Meghan miss out
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived late for the Easter church service at Windsor – turning up after the Queen had already gone in.
William and Kate were the last royals to arrive – they driven down the hill to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in a car – and didn’t enter the church until a few minutes after the scheduled start time of 10.45am.
Pregnant Kate looked elegant in a classic dark coat and matching hat as she made her way into the 14th Century Gothic chapel inside the castle walls.
The Duchess, who is expected to give birth to her third child this month, is now on maternity leave.
Kensington Palace declined to comment when asked about the couple’s late arrival.
The Queen arrived by car and was greeted outside the chapel by other members of her family who had walked down the hill for the Easter Matins service.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who has effectively retired from royal duties, was absent from the service at the chapel – where Prince Harry will marry Meghan Markle next month.
Harry and Meghan were not at the service, with Kensington Palace describing their weekend plans as “private”.
It is understood Philip was not due to attend the service.
The church service is the latest event the 96-year-old duke has been absent from in recent days and it is understood that he has been experiencing some trouble with his hip.
Members of the public waited outside the chapel as the 91-year-old monarch and her family arrived, and two little girls presented flowers to the Queen at the end.
Prince Andrew and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attended the Easter service, along with Eugenie’s fiancé Jack Brooksbank.
The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence led the royal family down the hill to the chapel, and were joined by Zara Tindall.
Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, also attended the service.
It is understood Philip missed the annual Maundy Service on Thursday because of a problem with his hip.
It is not thought to be a serious issue as Philip, who was named as a guest in the order of service for the Maundy Thursday event, was spotted driving in Windsor Great Park on Wednesday.
Last week, Philip pulled out of an official engagement with the Queen and Duke of York because he was unwell, according to reports.
He was due to attend an event at Windsor Castle to mark Andrew’s new role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards but was unable to attend because he was feeling “under the weather”, the Daily Mail reported.
He stepped down from his public duties last summer but on occasion does attend events with the Queen.
When it was announced last year that he would be retiring from official engagements, Buckingham Palace stressed that the decision was not health-related and he had the full support of the Queen.