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By CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster and Lauren Said-Moorhouse in London

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Britain's King Charles III will lead members of the royal family at the Easter Sunday church service this weekend, marking his most significant appearance since his cancer diagnosis last month.
 
Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will be joined by several other Windsors for the Easter Mattins Service at St. George's Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace confirmed earlier this week.
 
The event is a firm fixture in the royal calendar and is usually attended by many family members who are often seen walking to church together on Easter Sunday.
 
The 75-year-old monarch has been following medical advice and stepped back from public-facing duties while he undergoes treatment. As such, the number of family members gathering for the traditional service is expected to be smaller than normal to minimize the risks associated with larger crowds.
 
Regardless, his attendance will be seen by many royal watchers as a reassuring signal of his health. The King has taken a "business as usual" approach to his work behind the scenes as head of state as he continues his cancer battle.
 
He has also maintained a diary of private audiences. This week he greeted the new ambassadors of Moldova and Burundi at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, met with secretary-general of the Climate Vulnerable Forum on Wednesday, and community and faith leaders from around the UK the day before.

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Confirmation of the King's presence at the annual royal event came days after his daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealed she has also been diagnosed with cancer and asked for privacy as she navigates her health with her family.
 
The family of five are not expected to be among the royals turning out on Sunday. Kate's message on her health was released as her children -- Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- finished up school for the Easter vacation.
 
Determined to protect their children, the Waleses have since kept out of sight in line with Kate's wishes that "as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment."
 
King Charles was said to be "so proud" of Kate for "her courage in speaking as she did" in sharing her cancer diagnosis, according to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson last Friday.
 
The pair have "remained in the closest contact" since they received treatment at the same London hospital in January, and the King and Queen will "continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time."

Line of succession under pressure from the very top.

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The announcement from Catherine that she has started chemotherapy for cancer and is in the "early stages of that treatment" was a bolt from the blue. The 42-year-old princess revealed her cancer battle last Friday in an emotional video statement, after weeks of relentless scrutiny over her health.
 
It was a bold move. This is someone who gets nervous speaking in front of cameras, let alone about such a deeply personal matter. But the video -- simply shot, on a bench in front of a spray of spring foliage -- showed Kate earnestly sharing her story on her own terms and in her own words.
 
The disclosure about her health puts a new perspective on that photo -- and the events of the past few weeks. The official line is that she had been recovering from abdominal surgery, when the reality was a lot more serious than that. Yet again, the royal family could face some difficult questions about what they chose to reveal to the public, and when.
 
Beyond that, it is an extraordinary moment for the British monarchy. The institution is now facing one of its biggest crises in recent memory, with two of its most senior family members essentially out of action. It also leaves Prince William and Queen Camilla to front the institution while caring for their spouses.
 
Read our full analysis here.

King Charles' Easter message.

King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales' cancer diagnoses. The King's audio message was played at the annual Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral in England on Thursday. Charles did not attend the service given his ongoing treatment for cancer, leaving his wife, Queen Camilla, to hand out traditional Maundy gifts on his behalf. Read the full story here.

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Kate's words inspire thousands.

There has been a "spike in traffic" to cancer support pages following Kate's video announcement, according to a leading UK charity. Macmillan Cancer Support posted on X that there were nearly 100,000 visits to their information and support pages last weekend, adding that these were "the highest weekend levels seen since March 2020 and the first Covid lockdown in the UK." The charity added that a similar spike in traffic was noticed last month following the King's cancer diagnosis. "We hope that the Princess of Wales' message will encourage more people living with cancer to reach out for support," the charity said.

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Queen Camilla was met by huge crowds of royal-watchers during a visit to the Shrewsbury Farmers' Market on Wednesday. It was during a walkabout that she came across two sisters Harriet and Louis Waterston, who gave the King's wife a poster that they had made, reading: "Send our love to Kate." Stopping to talk with the schoolgirls, the Queen said the princess was "thrilled" by the public's support, according to the UK's PA Media news agency.

Oncologist: Kate's diagnosis is part of a troubling trend. 

Dr. Jalal Baig is a physician and writer based in Chicago. In an op-ed for CNN, he writes that Kate's recent announcement has left many in shock. As a medical oncologist, Baig continues that he is "heartbroken -- but hardly surprised." He explains: "Early-onset cancer, which is defined as happening in adults under 50 years of age, is no anomaly. In fact, it is part of a rising global trend in which newly diagnosed cancer patients are getting younger. Further, it deflates the myth that cancer is the preserve of older people." Read more in his story here.  

Watch: Royals vs. modern media.

The weeks leading up to Kate's revelation were handled carefully by traditional media, but rumors went wild on social media. Max takes a closer look:

“They are extremely moved by the public's warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.” 

– A Kensington Palace spokesperson

The Waleses expressed their gratitude for the messages of support from the public. The princess' brother James Middleton was one of the first from their families to send a touching message following her shock announcement last Friday. "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too," he said in an Instagram post accompanied by an old family photo of him with his teenage sister.
 
Separately, the Sussexes are wishing for "health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace." Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York said on social media that she was "full of admiration" for the princess opening up about her diagnosis. The duchess -- who was diagnosed with skin cancer earlier this year -- said the public awareness would "do a tremendous amount of good."

CNN’s Billy Stockwell contributed to this week’s newsletter.