Prince William and Kate Middleton Miss Easter Service Again

For the second year in a row, Prince William and Kate Middleton were noticeably absent from the royal family's traditional Easter Sunday service, choosing instead to spend the holiday privately with their children at Anmer Hall, their country estate in Norfolk.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have skipped the Easter festivities since 2023 when Kate was undergoing cancer treatment. Though her condition is now in remission, the family once again opted to stay out of the spotlight.

While their absence was low-key, the presence of disgraced royal Prince Andrew raised more eyebrows.

The Duke of York, who stepped back from public duties in 2019 following his disastrous interview about ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, attended the service alongside King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Also present were Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie with their husbands, as well as Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife.

The optics of Andrew attending public royal functions especially after his multi-million-dollar settlement with Virginia Roberts Giuffre and recent reports linking him to an alleged Chinese spy continue to cast a shadow over the monarchy. Despite no official charges, his presence at high-profile events like this remains controversial.

• Andrew lost all royal patronages and military titles in 2022 following his Epstein-related scandal.

• His reputation took another hit after reports surfaced late last year of his connection to a Chinese businessman flagged as a national security risk.

• He’s reportedly been urged to limit public appearances by both ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and daughter Princess Beatrice.

As the Royal Family continues to face image struggles from health battles to reputational landmines the absence of the popular William and Kate is being felt more than ever. Their decision to remain in Norfolk has sparked speculation about the future of their public role and how they plan to balance privacy with duty.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has yet to offer any comment on their absence or on the wisdom of allowing Prince Andrew to step back into the public eye.

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