Why Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie cancelled last-minute Easter royal appearance

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Lady Louise did not participate in the royal family's Easter church gathering.

King Charles and Queen Camilla led the customary group of British royalty to attend the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 5, but Prince Edward's wife and daughter were not present.

According to the Daily Express, Sophie, aged 61, had to miss the event due to feeling unwell, although she initially planned to attend.

Meanwhile, a source informed the outlet that Lady Louise, age 22, was away studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where academic sessions were ongoing. 

She is in her senior year at the same university where her cousin Prince William famously met his wife, Kate Middleton, in 2001.

Prince Edward, aged 62, and his son James, Earl of Wessex, age 18, represented the family at the Easter service, where they joined the King, Queen, Princess Anne, Prince William, Princess Kate, and other family members to celebrate the day.

This was an uncommon outing for James, who, similar to his sister, typically stays out of the royal limelight and only attends significant events like holiday festivities.

Although the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are full-time working royals, their children are not expected to take on official royal duties.

Louise and James are the youngest grandchildren of the late Queen Elizabeth, and their parents have allowed them the choice to decide on using royal titles upon coming of age.

Lady Louise turned 18 in November 2021 but she has not publicly taken up a royal title or HRH style, and James did the same when he reached 18 in December 2025.

Prince Edward's son holds the title of Earl of Wessex, which he assumed in March 2023. 

James received the title when King Charles announced the decision to make Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh in March 2023, bestowing him with the title originally given to their late father, Prince Philip.

This development made Sophie the new Duchess of Edinburgh, and their son James, previously known as Viscount Severn, took on the Earl of Wessex title, the same title granted to Edward upon his marriage to Sophie in 1999.

Buckingham Palace clarified that James would not inherit the Duke of Edinburgh title in the future. 

The palace's statement affirming Edward's title as Duke of Edinburgh noted that it "will remain with Prince Edward for his lifetime," specifying that it will return to the crown after, rather than being passed on to his son.

Sophie shared with the The Sunday Times in 2023 about their choice to forego "His/Her Royal Highness" titles for their two children, reflecting on the future roles they are likely to assume.