British Royal Family Easter traditions: Everything to know about how the royal family celebrate Easter | Explainer

The British royal family is nothing if not traditional.

And so it would only make sense that at Easter, just as they do at Christmas, the royals follow some steadfast traditions.

Last year, the royal family’s Easter plans were impacted by the cancer diagnoses of King Charles and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

With Kate now in remission from cancer, and Charles soldiering on despite ongoing treatment, let’s look at how the royal family will celebrate Easter 2025.

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Maundy Thursday church service

The royal family’s Easter traditions begin on the Thursday before Easter when the monarch attends a Royal Maundy Service, where specially-minted coins are handed out.

The service dates back to 600AD.

According to the Royal Family’s official website, during the Maundy Service, the sovereign distributes gifts, known as Maundy Money, which is based on the age of the monarch at the time, to thank the recipients for their outstanding Christian service and for making a difference to the lives of people in their local communities.

Each recipient is given two small leather purses; one red and one white.

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The first contains a small amount of ordinary coinage symbolising the sovereign’s gift for food and clothing.

The second contains Maundy coins up to the value of the sovereign’s age. The coins are legal tender but recipients normally prefer to retain them as a keepsake.

The coins have been much the same since 1670.

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The distribution of Maundy money to local pensioners commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper.

Early in her reign, Queen Elizabeth II decided Maundy Money should not just be distributed to the people of London, and began her own tradition of travelling to various cathedrals or abbeys in England.

She visited every cathedral in the country during her reign.

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Her last in-person appearance was in 2019. She was accompanied by her granddaughter Princess Eugenie for the Maundy Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where she handed out Maundy Money to 93 men and 93 women.

King Charles appeared in her place in 2022, after the Queen skipped the service due to ‘mobility issues’ .

He has now taken up the tradition, travelling to York Minster in 2023 – his first Easter as monarch.

King Charles was forced to miss last year’s service as he was taking a break from public-facing duties to undergo cancer treatment.

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Queen Camilla travelled to Worcester Cathedral to attend the service and hand out the traditional Maundy gifts on his behalf.

She distributed the coins to 75 men and 75 women, mirroring the age of the King, to thank them for their outstanding Christian service.

As the King was unable to attend, a pre-recorded message was played in which he read from the Gospel according to John, and thanked the Maundy Money recipients for their service.

It is thought the King will attend this year’s service, accompanied by the Queen. 

Easter at Windsor Castle

Throughout her long reign, and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II’s calendar saw her move between her various castles at the same time each year.

Each March-April, the Queen would spend one month living at Windsor Castle – her longest stay there of the year.

This meant Windsor was her base each Easter and members of her family were invited to come and celebrate with her.

In 2019, there was cause for a double celebration when Easter Sunday coincided with Queen Elizabeth’s 93rd birthday on April 21.

Easter Sunday church service

Each year, members of the royal family gather at Windsor Castle before heading off together to attend the Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Buckingham Palace confirmed last week that their Majesties, The King and Queen, accompanied by members of the royal family, will attend the service on Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 20.

Among those expected to attend, based on previous years, are the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, the Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Timothy Lawrence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and their children, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.

Also expected to attend are Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall and some or all of their three children.

Her son, Peter Phillips, may also appear.

Last year, Sarah, Duchess of York was a surprise attendee, having not joined the royals for Easter Sunday church since 1991. She joined her former husband, Prince Andrew.

Their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are also expected to make an appearance with their respective spouses.

Other more junior royals, including Princess Margaret’s daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto, her brother, the Earl of Snowdon, and even his former wife, Serena, Countess of Snowdon, may also attend.

Easter lunch

After church, the royal family convenes at Windsor Castle for lunch.

Former royal chef Darren McGrady, who was once Queen Elizabeth II’s personal chef, told OK! magazine in 2020 roast lamb was traditionally on the menu and was part of a four-course meal with all the trimmings.

“We’d go straight into the main course – a traditional roast lamb with seasonal vegetables,” he revealed.

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“They’d also have a compound salad served in a kidney dish attached to the plate – just some lettuce and cucumber with a little mint or some grated carrot and coriander.

“Afterwards, there is usually a cheese and fruit course, which will include Windsor Cheese made at the nearby Windsor Dairy.”

He said the fruit course would include some of “the most incredible sweet white Windsor peaches” that grew on the estate when he worked there.

“We’d have to lock them away in the kitchens because everyone wanted to taste them,” he said.

“The Queen always looked forward to those, but she’d have to wait until they were in season.”

Yes, there is chocolate

McGrady told OK in 2020 the late Queen had a fondness for chocolate, with Bendicks Bittermints among her favourites.

A box could even be seen on a table when the Queen received Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Windsor Castle in March 2022 – six months before her death.

“Her Majesty loves chocolate, but particularly dark chocolate,” he said.

“She gives it up for Lent and then looks forward to tucking into her favorite Bendicks Bittermints.

“Boxes of them are provided for everyone to nibble on.”

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