William and Kate join Queen at Easter service

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have joined the Queen for an Easter service at Windsor Castle for the first time.

William and Kate walked together with other members of the royal family to the Mattins at St George’s Chapel yesterday morning.

The Queen, who wore a turquoise coat and hat, arrived by car to the service with the Duke of Edinburgh.

Kate, 35, looked elegant in a classic cream coat by Catherine Walker with a matching hat, and curtsied as the Queen made her way into the 14th century Gothic chapel inside the castle walls.

The couple were not accompanied by Prince George or Princess Charlotte.

Dozens of people waiting outside the Chapel clapped as the 90-yearold monarch arrived, and afterwards she was handed posies of flowers by two schoolgirls who live in the castle.

Josie Thompson, who wore a flowery blue dress, and Eowyn Bannan, in a navy blue frock, both in Year Two, waited by the Galilee Porch to give their flowers to the Queen.

Prince Andrew and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attended the service, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn, who wore a bright blue coat, led the royal party down the hill to the chapel.

Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, also attended the service.

The Right Reverend David Conner, Dean of Windsor, led the congregation and prayed for the Queen to “always be a source of strength and inspiration to her people”.

After the hour-long service, the royal family joined the Dean for drinks before making their way back to the Queen’s private quarters inside the castle.