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The first engagement during Easter Court this year is the
unveiling of a Windsor Greys statue in Windsor during which
Prince William and Prince Philip will accompany her.
During her stay this year, The Queen is set to receive the
President of Ireland on a 4-day state visit at the Castle from
8th-11th April – one of two state visits Her Majesty will receive
throughout the course of this year. She and The Duke of Edinburgh
will also be making their own overseas visit to Italy on 3rd April,
where they will also meet the new Pope at the Vatican. It is the
first time The Queen has been overseas since 2011.
Royal Maundy will also be marked in the traditional way, this year
on 17th April in Lancashire’s Blackburn Cathedral. The
Queen traditionally hands out coins (symbolic) to local pensioners
– the value of the coins is equivalent to Her Majesty’s age.
Other members of the Royal Family will join The Queen at Windsor
Castle closer to Easter – they will attend a service at St George’s
Chapel within the castle on Easter Sunday. The following day
(Easter Monday), The Queen will be celebrating her 88th
birthday.
Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the
world, is ordinarily The Queen’s weekend residence though as well
as Easter Court, Her Majesty spends a week in June at the castle
over Royal Ascot week, she also resides there on the day of the
Order of the Garter service.
As is usual during Easter Court, The Queen will also be hosting
several ‘dine and sleeps’ at Windsor Castle, where politicians,
diplomats and other figures are invited to stay for a dinner and
are also given a room for the night.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George will be in
Australia over the easter period this year, so will not be joining
The Queen for the traditional service at St George’s
Chapel.]]>
