King Charles stresses ‘importance of friendship in times of need’ in poignant Easter message as Camilla attends service

King Charles has released a poignant Easter message that stresses the “importance of friendship” during “times of need.”

The ailing monarch’s pre-recorded audio message marks his first public comments since his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis last week.

The touching message was broadcast at a Royal Maundy service in Worcester Cathedral on Thursday ahead of the Easter weekend.

The King did not attend the service. Instead, his wife Queen Camilla made an appearance.

Charles, who announced in February he was undergoing outpatient cancer treatment, spoke about his faith and said that Jesus set an “example of how we should serve and care for each other.”

The sovereign also added that as a nation, “we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need.”

Charles also stressed the importance of his May 6 Coronation Day pledge, in which he vowed “not to be served but to serve.”

While the King didn’t mention the Princess of Wales’s personal health woes, his poignant speech highlighted leaning on loved ones during times of hardship.

This weekend, Charles is set to attend a small Easter service with family that’s set to be of much smaller scale than in previous years.

He is set to attend the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle later this week in honor of the Christian holiday.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday that he will make an appearance alongside Queen Camilla and other members of the Firm.

However, the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, are not expected to appear.

Instead, the family will spend the long weekend together behind closed doors at Anmer Hall, located on the Sandringham estate.

Middleton, 42, revealed last week that she has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment after doctors discovered cancer during her planned abdominal surgery in January.

It’s understood that the royal decided to share the news with the world that particular day as it was before her and William’s three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, left school for Easter break.

The Post revealed that the Waleses “sugarcoated” her health woes when breaking the news to their youngest son Prince Louis, but had a more “difficult” conversation with George and Charlotte.