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PrinceLouis shared an adorable momentwith grandpa King Charlesat the Royal Family's annual Easter Sunday church service today.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children attended the traditional ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsorfor the first time since Kate’s cancer diagnosis. Seven-year-old Louis walked with his mum and sister Princess Charlotte, down the hill from Windsor Castle to the church where he and the rest of the royals awaited the arrival of the King and Queen.

Charles and Queen Camilla arrived by car in front of the chapel to a shout of “God save the King” from the crowd, while the royals bowed and curtsied to them.

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And as the King made his way into the church, he turned to his grandchildren Charlotte and Louis, and appeared to give Louis a playful tap on his shoulder. The charming moment was spotted by body language expert Judi James, who told the Mirror : "It is a very unusual reward ritual from Charles, showing his softer side as a doting grandad.

"There is a very sweet moment when Charles is walking past William's children and he spontaneously, fondly and unusually (in public), stretches one hand out to pat one of them."

Also at today's service were Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, as well Prince Edward and his son James, the Earl of Wessex. The Duchess of Edinburgh had been expected to attend but was not there as she was "under the weather ".

Sophie and Edward's daughter Lady Louise did not attend either as she is busy with her university studies. However, others among the royal party were Peter Phillips and his wife-to-be Harriet Sperling, who announced earlier this week they would be marrying in June.

The Easter outing marks the first formal family event Harriet has appeared at, with her daughter Georgina, 15, joining Peter's daughters Savannah and Isla. After the service, Camilla was presented with a posey of flowers by 10-year-old Kit Bannan in front of the applauding crowd

.The King and Queen’s State Bentley had drawn up outside with no plans for a walkabout given how cold and windy it was, but the couple walked around it to undertake a shortened meet-and-greet given the cheers of the public waiting patiently outside the chapel.

Among them was Frank Gates, seven, from Egremont in Cumbria, who was smartly dressed in the uniform of the Coldstream Guards and proudly saluted his Colonel-in—Chief, the King. Before their arrival, he said: "I really want to be in the Coldstream Guards when I am older." Asked why, he said sweetly: "Because they are second to none."

Royal ‘superfan’ John Loughrey, from south London, said afterwards that His Majesty had spotted their flags: "He said he had seen our flags and wished us happy Easter." As the car drew away, the other members of the royal party came up the steps, led by the Wales’ who all - children included - waved happily to well-wishers wishing them ‘Happy Easter’.

As they walked back up the hill to the castle, Kate could be seen giving her daughter, Princess Charlotte, a proud hug, placing her arm around her shoulders and squeezing her.