King Charles III makes first major public appearance since cancer diagnosis at Easter Service

King Charles III made his first major public appearance since revealing his cancer diagnosis, attending an Easter Sunday service.

After the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, England, the King and his wife Queen Camilla greeted the crowd gathered outside the church, many of whom offered their best wishes to the King in his first public outing since Buckingham Palace announced his cancer battle in February. The king's exact diagnosis has not been revealed, but the palace said it is not prostate cancer.

Fewer royals attended the annual event due to concerns about King Charles III coming into contact with others amid his cancer treatment, reports CNN; the King and Queen also sat apart from the rest of the congregation – which included Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne – during the service.

However, King Charles III still chatted and shook hands with some of those in the crowd outside the church. according to the BBCthe King's exit “does not mark the beginning of a return to public duties, but is instead a cautious first step back into the public eye.”

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, who recently announced her own cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy amid growing rumors of her retirement from public appearances and royal duties, were absent from the church service.

Like Middleton, King Charles III has cut back on his public engagements in recent months as he “commenced a program of regular treatments” – his only public appearance before Easter Sunday was a walk before church on February 11 – but has “Continued to undertake government business and official paperwork as usual,” Buckingham Palace previously said in a statement.