‘I’m doing my best’: King greets well-wishers on surprise walkabout
The King has gone on a surprise walkabout to greet well-wishers on Easter Sunday during his most significant public appearance since his cancer diagnosis.
The King, 75, left the Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor accompanied by the Queen before speaking with people outside.
He had smiled and waved at the gathered members of the public before walking into the chapel to take his designated Sovereign’s Seat for the service.
It marks his first public engagement since announcing he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer in early February.
He has been advised by doctors to limit his contact with people as he undergoes treatment, but this did not stop him from shaking hands and speaking to well-wishers who had waited for him in Windsor.
A Palace source confirmed that Sunday’s public engagement was a “significant step” for the monarch during his treatment and that the road ahead was “looking very positive”.
They said: “As can be seen, the King has responded to treatment very encouragingly over 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.”
They added: “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.”
The Princess Royal, her husband Sir Tim Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of York were also in attendance at the service, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh with their son, James, the Earl of Wessex.
The King arrived by car at St George’s Chapel, alongside Queen Camilla, shortly after 10.40am. A member of the public shouted “Happy Easter”, to which Charles gestured with a wave and responded: “And to you.”
When a well-wisher urged the King to get well soon during the walkabout, he said: “I’m doing my best.”
The mix of members of the public and Windsor Castle estate staff wished Their Majesties a “Happy Easter” as they went to shake hands and greet people.
One woman said to send their best wishes to the Princess of Wales, who was absent from Sunday’s service.
Anne Daley, 65, from Cardiff, Wales, told the monarch that her King Charles spaniel, named Camilla, was now 17. He joked that she might need to get a “new one”.
The royal turnout for the Easter Sunday service was smaller than usual, described as “Easter Lite”, as the King has been advised to minimise his contact with others.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children were absent from the service as they have retreated from the public eye for the school holidays after the Princess announced that she was undergoing preventive chemotherapy.
As is customary, the King sat inside St George’s Chapel in the Sovereign’s Seat, situated at the front of the altar. The other royals were in their usual places in the stalls.
The layout of the chapel is such that the main congregation sits in a separate section of the church.
The Queen was wearing an emerald and diamond brooch belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Last year, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, all made an appearance at the Easter Matins service, which has seen almost as big a royal turnout as the Christmas Day outing in recent years.
The King’s appearance this year comes after he delivered a pre-recorded audio message at the Royal Maundy Thursday service at Worcester Cathedral, where he was represented by the Queen.
After Easter, the King and Queen will go away for their annual Easter break.
Since the monarch announced his cancer diagnosis in early February, he has been continuing to carry out his state duties and has been keen to maintain a public profile to reassure the nation that his hand remains on the tiller.
However, the cancer treatment that both the King and Princess of Wales are undergoing means that a large family gathering – like the one last seen on Christmas Day – is unlikely for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury began his Easter Sunday sermon at Canterbury Cathedral by paying tribute to the King and Princess for “their lack of selfishness” in sharing their cancer diagnoses.
He said: “In each of our lives, there are moments which change us forever. Sometimes it’s individual.
“We have watched, 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.”
After a rendition of the National Anthem during the service, the royal party went into the deanery for refreshments.
A source said the King and Queen popped their heads around the door to say hello. His attendance at the Windsor service was carefully arranged so that he could undertake the minimum amount of personal contact as possible on his doctors’ advice.
Their Majesties made their way back out through the Galilee Porch to have a short walkabout and greet the crowds, which marked his first public walkabout since his cancer diagnosis.
He told Anne Daley, who was waving her Welsh flag, that she was “very brave to stand out here in the cold”.
The 75-year-old monarch looked slightly bemused as Ms Daley told him “Camilla is 17 now”, but smiled when she explained that she was referring to her Cavalier King Charles spaniel. “You’ll need a new one,” he joked.
Another lady, wrapped in a Union flag, gave the King a get well soon card, which he looked pleased to receive before handing it to his new senior equerry, Lt Col Johnny Thompson.
“Thank you very much, that’s very kind. Did you make it?” he asked her as she pulled the card out of an envelope.
The King, wearing a blue tie with boats on it, told another well-wisher that he was “very touched” that she had come to Windsor Castle to see him.
Another told him: “Happy Easter your Majesty, never give in, keep going strong,” to which the King responded: “I just obey my instructions.”
Following the five-minute walkabout, he was driven back to the castle in his state Bentley with the Queen.
A few minutes later, the rest of the Royal family walked out of the deanery led by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who wished onlookers a happy Easter. The Duke of York seemed to avoid interaction with the crowds.
