All the Ways the Royals' 2023 Easter Celebrations Were Linked to Their Weddings

While hunting for eggs and opening baskets full of goodies are a few of the traditional ways people usually celebrate Easter, the royals commemorated the holiday a little differently this year. From King Charles and Queen Camilla to Princes Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, the members of the British royal family marked the occasion with a tribute to their royal weddings. Since Easter fell on April 9, 2023 this year, Charles and Camilla not only celebrated the holiday, but they also honored their 18th wedding anniversary. On April 9, 2005, the couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, which was followed by a prayer service and dedication at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. This year, the duo attended Easter Mass at St. George’s Chapel—the same spot they visited on their wedding day—with the rest of the royal family. They also exhibited a true power couple by choosing matching blue ensembles to wear for the church service. 

The future monarch and his wife also prepared for the Easter ceremony by attending the Royal Maundy Service on April 6, 2023. This is a pre-Easter ritual when a member of the royal family distributes coins called “Mandy money” to honor anyone who provides service to the community. This year, the king gave Maundy money to 74 men and 74 women as a token of appreciation, and the number signified his age. Based on tradition, beneficiaries also received two purses. They filled the white purse with 74 minted coins, another nod to his age, while the red purse contained two commemorative coins that represented Charles’ 75th birthday in November 2023 and the 75th anniversary of the Windrush Generation. 

Easter was also a special day for Eugenie and Jack. The princess and her husband were among the many royal family members who attended the church service on Easter at St. George’s Chapel, which was also the locale where they got married. The duo hosted their vow exchange in the Windsor Castle chapel on October 12, 2018, and they transformed the space with roses, hydrangea, dahlias, and berries. For the Easter service this year, Eugenie and Jack also coordinated with Charles and Camilla and with one another in blue outfits. While Eugenie wore a floral printed dress underneath a white coat and a blue headband, her husband sported a suit and light blue tie.  

Just like their wedding nearly five years ago, the Easter Mass had a great turnout from the royal family. In addition to Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Duchess Sophie, Zara and Mike Tindall, Peter Phillips, and many others were present for the occassion.

St. George’s Chapel has been a special place for the royals throughout history. The church has been the site of many royal nuptials, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018; Peter Phillips and former wife Autumn Kelly on May 17, 2008; and Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones on June 19, 1999. Four of Queen Victoria’s children—Princess Louise, King Edward VII, Prince Leopold, and Prince Arthur—also said “I do” at the chapel. The church is also the burial site for Queen Elizabeth II after she passed away on September 8, 2022.