Kate Middleton and Prince William opted to spend Easter with Kate's side of the family in Sandringham, skipping the royal family's holiday church outing at Windsor Castle.

For many, Easter is that once-a-year moment when far-flung family members reunite at Grandma and Grandpa’s for food, church and a lot of catching up. And traditionally, that’s not too different from how the royal family marks the holiday.

Prince William and Kate Middleton were absent from the royal family's Easter service. The traditional Easter Matins service took place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. Their absence surprised many,