Royal family responds after criticism over King’s Maundy Thursday remarks
Buckingham Palace has issued a fresh message from King Charles III to mark Easter Sunday, following criticism over his earlier comments promoting interfaith harmony during his Maundy Thursday address.
The royal family's official Instagram account shared the new message on April 20, reading:
"He is Risen! Wishing a peaceful and happy Easter Sunday to all who celebrate."
The brief and traditional Easter greeting comes just days after the King faced backlash from some Christian figures for his previous remarks. The late Queen Elizabeth II's former chaplain, Dr Gavin Ashenden, labelled the Maundy message "disrespectful" and suggested it caused more division than unity.
"It would be nice if we could say 'how wonderful' and welcome it with generosity," Ashenden told GB News, "but the trouble is, it causes more trouble than it helps."
In his Maundy Thursday message, King Charles reflected on the human capacity for both "great cruelty and great kindness," while praising humanitarian efforts across religious lines. He highlighted meeting aid workers from various faiths who risk their lives in conflict zones, saying he felt "a profound sense of admiration for their resilience, courage and compassion."
The newly released Easter message appears to be a subtle response to the controversy, offering a more traditional tone to reaffirm the King’s respect for Christian celebrations while maintaining his commitment to promoting unity and compassion.
