Prince William cancels appearance at King Constantine’s memorial service

Prince William has withdrawn from a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, due to a personal matter, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

The palace did not reveal the reason for his absence. Still, it said his wife, Princess Kate, recovering from abdominal surgery, is doing well and will resume her royal duties after Easter.

The funeral service for King Constantine, who passed away in January 2023, was held on Tuesday at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. King Charles, who is currently fighting cancer, could not attend the service despite being a close friend and cousin of the former Greek monarch. King Constantine was also the first cousin once removed and sailing partner of the late Prince Philip.

Prince William, who was expected to give a reading at the service, personally called the Greek royal family to inform them of his decision. His godfather’s eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos, took his place in delivering the reading.

Other members of the royal family, including Queen Camilla, Prince Andrew, and Zara Tindall, were present at the service, along with King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.

King Constantine was the last King of Greece, reigning from 1964 until 1973 when a military junta deposed him. He lived in exile in London for most of his life but maintained close ties with the British royals. He was the godfather of Prince William and Prince Harry and attended their weddings in 2011 and 2018, respectively.

He was also a keen sailor and competed in the 1960 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the dragon class. He often sailed with Prince Philip, who shared his passion for the sport. The two men were also involved in the International Olympic Committee and the World Wildlife Fund.

King Constantine suffered from health problems in his later years and was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. He died peacefully at his home in Athens on January 11, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was 82 years old.

His funeral was held in Greece on January 16, 2023, and was attended by several European royals, including King Charles and Queen Camilla. However, Prince William and Princess Kate could not participate, as she was undergoing surgery then.

The memorial service at Windsor Castle was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and King Charles’s health issues. It was finally held on February 27, 2024, to pay tribute to King Constantine’s life and legacy.

Sola Adeniji

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