Prince Andrew makes discreet appearance at royal Easter service in Windsor

The Duke of York made a low profile entrance at the traditional royal Easter service in Windsor today.

Prince Andrew arrived alongside his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, his sister Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim.

While other members of the family turned to the cameras and waved, the Duke opted to open his car door away from photographers and go straight into the chapel.

The Duke has been in the headlines recently after his accuser Virginia Guiffre claimed to have days to live, in a public Instagram post she later said was mistakenly shared.

The King and Queen, Charles and Camilla, smiled and waved at members of the public who waited for their arrival at St George’s Chapel.

Prince Andrew is among the royals present in Windsor today

William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are not at the church today as they are spending the weekend with their children in Norfolk.

The Waleses, who have a country home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate, also missed the annual service last year after Kate, who is now in remission, was diagnosed with cancer.

Andrew missed the royal family’s Christmas gathering at Sandringham last year amid controversy surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

He has not been pictured at a formal royal family event since last Easter, and has largely disappeared from public life after stepping down from official duties, following a poorly received Newsnight interview about his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre, 41, claims she was trafficked for sex to the Duke by the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as a teen.

He denies the allegations. In 2022, he settled a civil case she brought against him before it went to trial, without any admission of liability.

Other members of the family present this morning included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis also made a rare public appearance for Easter Sunday today, having recovered sufficiently after he spent time in hospital for a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.

He did not preside over the entire open-air Mass in St Peter’s Square, but did appear for a blessing.

‘Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,’ the Pontiff said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since his admission to hospital.

In his place, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica, celebrated the open-air Mass before thousands of people on a chilly but sunny spring morning.