The Cambridges Join The Queen For Easter Service

It's been a glorious Easter weekend, the sun is shining, spring flowers are in full bloom and in keeping with tradition, the Queen and a large gathering of family members attended church service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. As hoped for, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the monarch this morning.

It marks the third consecutive year the couple have attended the Windsor service.

It's been a quiet month for the Cambridges, who have been enjoying George and Charlotte's Easter break at their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk. They were spotted at the nearby Burnham Horse Trials with the Tindalls. Mike and Zara were also in attendance today. The family will return to Kensington Palace after the weekend ahead of term commencing at Thomas's Battersea on Wednesday, and Charlotte's nursery Willcocks. Before that, Louis will celebrate his first birthday on Tuesday. The Duchess will resume duties on Thursday, with an appearance at the ANZAC Day service at Westminster Abbey.

On Easter Sunday last year, Kate told a group of little girls George and Charlotte had a ball at an Easter egg hunt that morning; I'm sure the Cambridge children did the same today.

Today has additional significance for the Royal family, as it's Her Majesty's 93rd birthday.

A curtsy from the Duchess.

Just days away from welcoming Baby Sussex, Prince Harry was in fine form chatting to Zara and Autumn Phillips.

An arrival video of the royal party. Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and the Wessexes and Princess Anne's family were also present.

St George's Chapel is a 14th century building located in the lower ward of the castle.

The chapel has been the site of many royal weddings, including the weddings of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank last year. The chapel is also home to the annual Order of the Garter ceremony held in June. Within the Chapel are the tombs of ten monarchs, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I.

More on the history of the chapel:

'In 1348, King Edward III founded two new religious colleges: St Stephen's at Westminster and St George's at Windsor. The new college at Windsor was attached to the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor which had been constructed by Henry III in the early thirteenth century. The chapel was then rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Edward the Confessor and St George the Martyr. Edward III also built the Aerary Porch in 1353–1354. It was used as the entrance to the new college.

The Quire of St George's Chapel, by Charles Wild, from W.H. Pyne's Royal Residences, 1818. St George's Chapel became the Mother Church of the Order of the Garter, and a special service is still held in the chapel every June and is attended by the members of the order. Their heraldic banners hang above the upper stalls of the choir where they have a seat for life.'

The Evening Standard reports:

'In his sermon, the Dean did not mention the royal birthday but discussed the Easter message of love and the terrible fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris last week. He also read from Easter poetry by the Christian socialist Charles Kingsley, author of The Water Babies, whose birth 200 years ago will be celebrated in June.

After the service, the Queen and her family went for drinks in the Deanery before leaving from separate exits. As the monarch returned to her car at the Galilee Porch, the crowd -members of the public let in to watch and some of the congregation - sang Happy Birthday, as she was given flowers by two boys, Rufus Travers-Brown and Edward Bland, the sons of lay clerks (adult choristers) at the chapel.'

The Duke and Duchess departing.

In his Easter message this year, Prince Charles called for an end to the "pervasive horror" of knife crime. More from the Telegraph:

'Writing of Easter as a celebration of the triumph of lightness over dark, Prince Charles has now called for those who commit “brutal deeds” to be brought to their senses through justice and the “extraordinary power” and gift of forgiveness.

Saying “there are times when it can feel as if the light has gone out of the world and darkness reigns, the Prince, who will one day be head of the Church of England, says: “Easter gives us hope. Throughout my own life, it has been a humbling experience to meet and to listen to people who have suffered the most terrible personal tragedies,” he writes.

“The way they have grieved and turned their grief into action to help others in the most extraordinary way is an example of the light overcoming the darkness. Recently, Prince Harry and I brought together some of those who have been affected by knife crime to see what more could be done to tackle this pervasive horror. Listening to those who have suffered from such attacks filled us both with immense sadness.

“But their remarkable determination to move forward and address the causes of such crime and to find solutions was, for me, yet another example of the light shining in the darkness.” He adds: “Of course, those who commit such brutal deeds need to face up to their crimes through being brought to justice.

“However, very often it is not the punishment that brings them to their senses and changes them, but rather the extraordinary power of the forgiveness from those they have hurt.”

In 2017 and 2018, the Duchess repeated classic Catherine Walker coats for Easter Sunday.

Today, Kate brought back her very popular dove grey Alexander McQueen coat, first worn for Easter Sunday service at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, in 2014. Several of you mentioned you would love to see the elegant piece again. It's a great choice for the occasion.

Kate repeated the matching grey Jane Taylor hat.

Kate accessorised with her gorgeous Robinson Pelham wedding earrings. Michael and Carole Middleton had the earrings commissioned as a gift in 2011. Their design is derived from the acorn and oak leaves which form part of the Middleton family coat of arms, and they perfectly complement the 'Halo' tiara, echoing the scroll elements in the design. The £15K earrings are made of 18 karat white gold and diamonds in the form of a curled diamond set oak leaf top and a pear-shaped diamond set drop with a central articulated pave set diamond acorn.

And her Acorn brooch. Kate's worn the piece on a number of occasions since 2012. I expect it's also a Robinson Pelham piece.

A closer look at the brooch from Christmas Day 2015.

Kate teamed the look with the soft grey Emmy London Rebecca Cinder Pointed Court shoes and matching clutch.

Below, a wooden egg with a portrait of HM given to the monarch by the Ambassador of Ukraine, Volodymyr Khandogiy. It's one of a number of ornate eggs she's been given over the years. Wishing the Queen the happiest of birthdays! I'm sure it will be a splendid day surrounded by loved ones.

We'll see you tomorrow or Tuesday for Prince Louis' first birthday photos. Wishing you all a very Happy Easter :)