#Accountability – Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles III will not issue a formal Easter message this year, breaking from the precedent he set in 2025.
In 2025, the King released a written Easter message reflecting on faith, hope, love, human cruelty and kindness, and the Easter story’s themes of compassion amid suffering. However, unlike the annual Christmas broadcast, an Easter address is not a fixed royal tradition, and the Palace has indicated it won’t happen every year.
Instead, on Maundy Thursday (April 2, 2026), King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla attended the Royal Maundy service at St Asaph Cathedral in Wales—the second time in its 800+ year history it’s been held there. The King distributed Maundy money to 77 men and 77 women in recognition of their service, continuing the ancient tradition tied to the Last Supper and themes of humility and charity.
The decision to not issue an Easter message, the single most important solemnity for Christians, has resulted in backlash due to the King’s attention to non-Christian religious holidays in the last year. The King remains to be the “Defender of the [Christian] Faith” as well as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Critics highlight that he issued messages for Ramadan and other Islamic observances (including quoting the Quran and praising Muslim contributions), but is skipping a dedicated Easter address this year. This has fuelled accusations of sidelining Christianity—the faith tied to his title—while actively engaging with others. Social media and commentators have called it inconsistent, with some labelling him a “traitor” to Christian heritage or suggesting he has undue sympathy for Islam (referencing past comments from the 1990s).
Last year’s Easter message drew backlash for referencing Judaism, Islam, and other traditions alongside Christian themes of love and compassion. Figures like former royal chaplain Gavin Ashenden called it “offensive” for equating faiths without distinction, arguing it diluted Easter’s focus on the Resurrection. Similar sentiments resurfaced with this year’s decision not to issue one at all, seen by some as further erosion of Britain’s Christian foundations at its most important festival.
Prominent voices, including on platforms like X and from groups like the UK Independence Party, have accused him of abandoning British Christians amid feelings of cultural suppression. Posts demand he abdicate, question his fitness as head of the Church, and contrast his schedule (e.g., Maundy service attendance, other engagements) with the “silence” on Easter. Graffiti like “Not our King” appeared at St. Asaph Cathedral ahead of his visit, reflecting broader discontent.
Not everyone sees it as controversial. Easter messages are not a fixed annual tradition like the Christmas broadcast—Queen Elizabeth II rarely issued standalone ones—and the Palace has framed this as routine. Overall, the backlash taps into wider debates about multiculturalism, secularism, and the monarchy’s relevance in a diverse UK.
Images: King Charles and Camilla arrive for Maundy Thursday liturgical service in Wales (Top); grafitti seen near St. Asaph Cathedral ahead of his visit (Bottom)
