Archbishop delivers Easter message about princess as King takes ‘significant step’

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, delivered a message during his Easter Sunday sermon that acknowledged the cancer struggles of King Charles and the Princess of Wales.

“In each of our lives, there are moments which change us forever,” he said.“We’ve watched and sympathised with and felt alongside the dignity of the King and the Princess of Wales, as they have talked of their cancer, and in doing so by their lack of selfishness, by their grace and their faith, boosted so many others,” he said.

He delivered his message at Canterbury Cathedral in the English county of Kent.

After members of the royal family came together for the Easter matins service – attention will turn next to the next public engagements.

Although nothing is in the public diary for King Charles, there are a number of other engagements involving Princess Anne and Sophie, Durches of Edinburgh, in the coming weeks:

• 6 April – Princess Anne at 40th aniversary event for Working Clumber Spaniel Society at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire
• 8 April – Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, attending the Wallace Collection Director’s Dinner at Hertford House in London
• 9 April – Princess Anne at St Olave’s Church Rededication Service on the occasion of its 70th anniversary in London
• 9 April – Princess Anne opening the Tideway public open space in Chelsea Quay, London
• 10 April – Princess Anne visiting HMS Venturer at Rosyth Royal Dockyard in Fife
• 10 April – Princess Anne visiting Trawden Community Projects in Colne, Lancashire

Perhaps it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that King Charles walked over to greet members of the public following the Easter matins service on Sunday.

We know that the monarch appreciates the support he has received from the public since his cancer diagnosis – and so the first opportunity to speak to members was perhaps too good to pass.

Not only did he shake the hands of around 60 people waiting at Windsor Castle on Sunday, he also spent three minutes engaging in short conversations, much to the delight of those in attendance.

Here’s a reminder of what the country’s support means to the King:

Fletcher, who recorded a special podcast episode with Middleton in 2020, reflected on two encounters she has had with the Princess of Wales, one of which saw the pair bonding over nipple cream at a baby bank.

Following his Easter appearance, King Charles has made a “significant step” in his return to public duties, a source has said.

“Today was a significant step,” the Palace insider said.

“As can be seen, the King has responded to treatment very encouragingly over the past weeks and his doctors were thus able to adjust their guidance slightly on what His Majesty is now able to undertake, including attendance at the Easter Service and greeting well-wishers who had kindly turned out to show their support.”

The comment comes weeks after the Royals announced that the King was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Palace had announced that the King will refrain from participating in any official public engagements during his treatment. He has instead been fulfilling all his official duties privately.

The road ahead is “looking very positive”, the source said.

The monarch waved as he stood beside the Queen outside St George’s Chapel earlier in the day, in his most significant public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer.

Watch our video of the King interacting with the public below:

Well-wishers who waited at Windsor Castle to see King Charles as he attended the Easter matins service on Sunday have spoken of their joy at meeting the monarch.

One woman said the 75-year-old’s attendance showed he was “doing good” after starting treatment for cancer.

Another well-wisher, Henry Wood, said the King was in “good spirits”.

King Charles is said to be responding well to his cancer treatment, with his road to recovery looking “very positive”, as he appeared “looking well” on Easter Sunday.

The 75-year-old monarch was making his first major public appearance having been diagnosed with an unspecific form of cancer in January.

His attendance at the Easter matins service in Windsor, followed by greeting members of the public, was reportedly a result of a change in doctors’ guidance due to him responding “very encouragingly” to treatment.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was among the royal family members to attend the Easter matins service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

The 64-year-old arrived with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, with the pair dropped off in a car outside the church.

It came after she attended a thanksgiving memorial service for King Constantine II of Greece in February.

Fergie, like the Princess of Wales and King Charles, is facing her own health battle after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer earlier this year.

Following the King’s first public appearance many media outlets ran a lengthy comment from a palace source, including The Sun, The Mirror and The Telegraph.

Here is the statement in full: “Today was a significant step. As can be seen, The King has responded to treatment very encouragingly over the past weeks and his doctors were thus able to adjust their guidance slightly on what His Majesty is now able to undertake, including attendance at the Easter Service and greeting well-wishers who had kindly turned out to show their support.

“To be clear, His Majesty’s treatment continues and caution is of course the watchword, but as diary plans are evolved towards summer, we hope to see more of these carefully-calibrated steps towards the resumption of some public facing duties for The King, with adjustments made where necessary.

“Nothing will be confirmed until nearer the time, plans remain in flux and are subject to medical guidance, but there is great hope and optimism from both doctors and the patient.

“While His Majesty has of course been undertaking all his official duties in private, and has been photographed at a number of smaller Palace engagements, hopefully today has offered wider public reassurance that His Majesty is doing well and that the road ahead is looking very positive.”