Princess Anne offers help to James, Earl of Wessex as the Duchess of Edinburgh has to miss royal Easter

The Princess Royal was on hand to help her nephew, the Earl of Wessex, as they both attended the Easter Sunday service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

James walked to the chapel with his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, but without his mum or sister. The Duchess of Edinburgh was missing from the Royal Family line up. it was reported she was ”under the weather” and had had to skip the church service.

Lady Louise Mountbatten Windsor also missed this year’s Easter service – she is understood to be prepping for final exams at the University of St. Andrews.

However, James had Princess Anne to rely on when a matter of protocol came up. As the two waited to shake hands with the clergy who welcomed the royals to St. George’s, James stepped back to let his aunt take the lead. However, the Princess gently reached out to the Earl, who turned 18 in December, and explained he could go first. The teenager quietly agreed and stepped forward to shake hands.

Princess Anne had been joined by her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, at the service as well as by her son, Peter Phillips. He was accompanied by his fiancée, Harriet Sperling, who was taking part in the royal Easter celebrations for the first time. The couple are set to marry in a church ceremony on June 6, announcing their special date earlier this week.

The absence of the Duchess of Edinburgh came after she missed another important royal event. Sophie wasn’t at the State Banquet for the President of Nigeria which was held at Windsor Castle as Bola Tinubu became the first leader from his country to make a State Visit to the UK in 37 years. The Duchess had just got back from a series of high profile overseas trips including time in New York and a visit to Italy to support Team GB’s Paralympians.

However, Sophie already has engagements lined up for after the Easter holidays including a reception at St. James’ Palace in London.

The other noticeable absences at the royal gathering at Windsor were Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Their non involvement had already been confirmed as both had decided to spend Easter away with their families. Their father, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, spent the weekend at his new home on the Sandringham estate where he has lived since February. He was arrested there in the same month on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released under investigation.

King Charles led the Royal Family at the Easter celebrations, arriving at St. George’s Chapel by car with Queen Camilla. The Prince and Princess of Wales had walked to the chapel a little while earlier, with other royals including Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and Princess Anne.

And there was a special hello for Prince Louis, 7, from his grandfather, King Charles. When The King spotted his grandson, he gave him a pat on the arm as they went into the chapel. Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 10, were also included in another sweet moment as King Charles blew them all a kiss on first seeing them on his arrival at Windsor.