King Charles and Queen Camilla were spotted as they made their way to church in Scotland this morning.

The royal couple were attending the Sunday service at Crathie Kirk church, near Balmoral.

Snaps of the monarch, 76, and his wife, 77, show Camilla sitting in the front passenger seat of their car, with the King in the back.

The sighting comes comes just a day after their Majesties did not attend the funeral of Pope Francis.

World leaders, clergymen, and reigning monarchs attended the three-hour mass in St Peter’s Square as the Argentine pontiff was laid to rest on Saturday. 

Among them were Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, former US First Lady Jill Biden, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. 

The Argentine pontiff, 88, died on Easter Monday from a stroke, less than a month after returning home from five weeks in hospital battling double pneumonia.

It was confirmed ahead of his funeral that Prince William would be travelling to the Vatican for the event. 

Queen Camilla was spotted while making her way to Crathie Kirk church in Scotland on Sunday morning

The decision was in keeping with modern tradition: Charles as the Prince of Wales went to Pope John Paul II’s funeral, representing his mother the late Queen, in 2005.

According to reports, protocol dictates that the heir, rather than the sovereign, attends funerals.

However, while King Charles did not attend the event, he did pay tribute to the late pope via a statement. It said: ‘My wife and I were most deeply saddened to learn of the death of Pope Francis. 

‘Our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased, however, to know that His Holiness was able to share an Easter Greeting with the Church and the world he served with such devotion throughout his life and ministry.’  

He continued: ‘His Holiness will be remembered for his compassion, his concern for the unity of the Church and for his tireless commitment to the common causes of all people of faith, and to those of goodwill who work for the benefit of others. 

‘His belief that care for Creation is an existential expression of faith in God resounded with so many across the world. 

King Charles was just visible sitting in the back seat of the car as he made his way to the Sunday service

‘Through his work and care for both people and planet, he profoundly touched the lives of so many.’ 

King Charles and Queen Camilla met with the late pope recently, during a tour of Italy. They visited him at Casa Santa Maria, where he gave them a 20th anniversary gift.

The King released another statement today, via the Royal Family Instagram account, after nine people were killed at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver this weekend, when a car ploughed into the crowd.

His statement said: ‘Both my wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful attack and utterly tragic loss of life in Vancouver, which took place as the Filipino community came together to mark the celebration of one of their most special festivals.

‘Our hearts and prayers go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by such a desperate tragedy and we send our deepest possible sympathy at a most agonizing time for so many in Canada. Charles R.’