King Charles speaks to a royal fan about her King Charles spaniel named Camilla at Easter service

King Charles shared a comical exchange with a royal fan about her 17-year-old spaniel named ‘Camilla’ as he greeted members of the public on Easter Day.

Charles and Camilla shook hands with dozens of people who lined up outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor yesterday, in what was the most significant public appearance for the monarch since his cancer diagnosis last month.

One woman, who was holding a Welsh flag and dressed in a matching bright red coat and hat, called King to get his attention.    

She said: ‘Your Majesty, Camilla is 17 now’. Charles looked back at her and paused before she clarified that her King Charles spaniel is called Camilla. 

The King made a comment back to the woman and the crowd begin to laugh at the exchange.  

Moments before the King and Queen were asked to pass on ‘best wishes’ to the Princess of Wales from a member of the public.

The woman said: ‘Best wishes to the Princess of Wales’ to which Camilla nods in acknowledgement. King Charles responded: ‘Thank you very much.’

The King was seen shaking hands with 56 people as he was given a homemade card and promised concerned royal fans that he is doing his ‘best’.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were not in attendance as they continue to recuperate in private with their three young children at Amner Hall, their country home – where they can ‘will close off from the world and move on’.

Following Kate’s emotional video last Friday, the King said he was ‘so proud’ of the princess for her courage in speaking out, and is said to be in ‘the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law’.

The outpouring of support comes after the Royal Family was rocked not only King Charles’ illness, but the Princess of Wales’ diagnosis with cancer.

Just over a week ago, Kate, 42, revealed that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy in an emotional video that sent shockwaves across the world.

The monarch, 75, was in high spirits and his visit could be seen as a very ‘significant’ step in his cancer recovery, a Palace source said.

One woman, who was holding a Welsh flag and dressed in a matching bright red coat and hat, called King to get his attention 

Charles and Camilla shook hands with dozens of people who lined up outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor yesterday, in what was the most significant public appearance for the monarch since his diagnosis last month 

King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured arriving for Easter Service at Windsor yesterday as the monarch makes a ‘gentle’ return to public life

Charles was in high spirits as he shook hands with dozens of people at St George’s Chapel

Charles received the shock cancer diagnosis just 17 months into his reign as King while undergoing a hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement.

Speaking to MailOnline, the Palace source said today’s walkabout marks a ‘significant’ step in Charles’s recovery, adding: ‘As can be seen, The King has responded to treatment very encouragingly over the past weeks.

‘His doctors were thus able to adjust their guidance slightly on what His Majesty is now able to undertake, including attendance at the Easter service and greeting wellwishers who had kindly turned out to show their support.

‘To be clear, His Majesty’s treatment continues and caution is of course the watchword, but as diary plans are evolved towards summer, we hope to see more of these carefully-calibrated steps towards the resumption of some public facing duties for The King, with adjustments made where necessary.

‘Nothing will be confirmed until nearer the time, plans remain in flux and are subject to medical guidance, but there is great hope and optimism from both doctors and the patient.’

One woman, who was holding a Welsh flag and dressed in a matching bright red coat and hat, called King to get his attention

The King made a comment back to the woman and the crowd begin to laugh at the exchange

Moments before the King and Queen were asked to pass on ‘best wishes’ to the Princess of Wales from a member of the public

Charles and Camilla appeared in great spirits as they waved at the crowd of royal fans 

The King appeared happy and healthy as he stepped out for the Easter service with Camilla 

The source added that while His Majesty has been undertaking all his official duties in private, and has been photographed at a number of smaller Palace engagements, today is likely to have offered wider public reassurance that His Majesty is ‘doing well and that the the road ahead is looking very positive’.

At today’s walkabout, one royal fan leaned over to tell Charles: ‘Happy Easter your Majesty – keep going strong and never give in’. Others were heard saying ‘nice to see you’ and asking the monarch ‘how are you’ as Charles and Queen Camilla walked by.

Earlier today the King was seen beaming as he arrived in his maroon state Bentley ahead of today’s church service. It marked a ‘gentle’ return to public life, after he stepped back from his normal duties last month.

The King’s cheery appearance will provide great reassurance to the public after the monarch took a step back from his official duties following his diagnosis last month.