Queen Camilla faced an anti-monarchy protest as she arrived at Worcester Cathedral for the Maundy service, a significant event in the Christian calendar, on behalf of King Charles who is presently undergoing cancer treatment. The protest was organized by the group Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the British monarchy. Republic’s demonstrators held yellow banners and voiced their opposition with chants of “Down with the crown” as they expressed their stance against the monarchy as an institution, not the royal family members personally.

Graham Smith, the Chief Executive of Republic, emphasized that the protest aimed to critique the monarchy and called the Maundy service a “tone-deaf tradition” considering the monarchy’s annual cost to taxpayers. Despite the backdrop of King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses, the group intends to use this event to attract more activists and plans further demonstrations.

Amid these developments, King Charles released a pre-recorded Easter message to a congregation at Worcester Cathedral, highlighting the values of service and friendship, especially poignant given his and Princess Kate’s health challenges. Although not present at the service, Queen Camilla represented the King, spreading warmth among the attendees and engaging with the public, including showing appreciation for the support of Princess Kate demonstrated through handmade posters by two young sisters in Shrewsbury.

The King’s Easter message, focusing on serving with his “whole heart” and underscoring the significance of acts of kindness and community service, was delivered amid his ongoing cancer treatment. This message was particularly resonant during the Maundy service, an occasion that traditionally involves distributing Maundy money to recognize community service, a duty Queen Camilla undertook in the King’s stead.