Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles take a walk in the park for Easter weekend portraits

The royal family release images of the mother and son taken at Frogmore House in Windsor

Britain's royal family share images of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles spending their Easter weekend at Frogmore House. Twitter / royalfamily
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Britain's royal family have released new portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles spending their Easter weekend together.

"The Queen and The Prince of Wales enjoy a walk in the grounds of Frogmore House, Windsor," the royal family posted on social media, showing the mother and son smiling in the garden surrounded by flowers.

Queen Elizabeth II, 94, is seen wearing a green coat, which she paired with a headscarf and gloves, while her son, 72, wore a tan coat paired with a grey tie.

The official account for Clarence House, dedicated to the work of Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also posted another photo of the pair.

Both portraits were taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson.

Queen Elizabeth II traditionally spends her Easter weekend privately with her family, but usually marks Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday, with a visit to cathedrals across the country to hand out special coins to men and women over the age of 70, to thank them for their contribution to their community and church.

This year, however, owing to coronavirus restrictions, she sent the 190 recipients the Maundy gift along with a letter.

PRINCES RISBOROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: In this handout photo provided by Buckingham Palace, Malcolm Cloutt from Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, a veteran Second World War RAF pilot who served in Europe and Burma and turned 100 last year, and who is among this years recipients of Maundy money,  poses for a photo on March 31, 202 in Princes Risborough, United Kingdom. This year there are 190 Royal Maundy recipients who have been recognised by their dioceses for their outstanding contributions to their local church and community life. Queen Elizabeth II has written to those she would have presented with symbolic coins during the annual Royal Maundy service, but who instead have received the gift by post after the event was cancelled for the second year running due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski -Buckingham Palace via Getty Images)
Malcolm Cloutt, a veteran Second World War RAF pilot, is among this year’s recipients of Maundy gifts. Getty

"Each year, at the Royal Maundy Service, we have an opportunity to recognise, and give thanks for, work done by countless people for the well-being of their neighbours; work that has often been taken for granted or hidden," the letter reads, according to People magazine. "I am sure you will be sad, as I am, that present circumstances make it impossible for that service to take place. I hope, however, that this Maundy Gift will remind you for years to come that your efforts have been truly appreciated."

Incidentally, Frogmore House, which is part of the Frogmore Estate, is also the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple, who moved there in 2019, even had their wedding reception at the estate in 2018.

In this photo released by Kensington Palace on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose an official engagement photo, at Frogmore House, in Windsor, England. (Alexi Lubomirski via AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose an official engagement photo at Frogmore House in Windsor. Courtesy Alexi Lubomirski

The British royal family were recently rocked by a bombshell interview Prince Harry and Meghan gave to Oprah Winfrey, which was broadcast last month. In the wide-ranging interview, Meghan spoke about her struggles with mental health and made allegations that members of the royal family were concerned about her son Archie's skin colour. Harry also spoke about his strained relationship with his father, Prince Charles, and revealed that the royal family had cut off his funding.

Prince Harry and Meghan, who announced in January 2020 that they would officially step down as senior members of the royal family, now live in California with their son, Archie, 1. Meghan, who is due to give birth to their second child in the summer, told Winfrey in the interview they are having a girl.