The King’s reassuring Easter appearance

Most years, the royal family’s attendance at the Easter Mattins service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor is nothing more than a well-received piece of pageantry, an opportunity for well-wishers to wave and cheer and for commentators to observe whatever couture the royals are wearing. Not this year. The absence of the Princess of Wales was inevitable as soon as she revealed her treatment for cancer, and therefore there is no Prince William, nor their children. It goes without saying, of course, that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not decided to end the estrangement that exists between them and the rest of the family. Even had they wished to attend, it is doubtful that Harry’s well-documented battles with the government over his security issues would have allowed it to happen.

So instead, all attention lies on the King, making his first public appearance of sorts since his announcement that he, too, has cancer.