Samantha Ibrahim
Prince William has pulled out of attending a memorial service for his godfather, Greece’s late King Constantine, due to “a personal matter,” according to Kensington Palace.
“Unfortunately, The Prince of Wales is no longer able to attend the King Constantine Memorial Service this morning due to a personal matter,” the palace said in a statement.
No further details as to why William missed the event were given.
Several other members of the royal family gathered to commemorate King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle, including Queen Camilla, Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Anne, and Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike Tindall.
Constantine died in January 2023 at age 82.
William was set to attend the event solo, as his wife, Kate Middleton, is still recovering from her recent abdominal surgery.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 42, is recuperating at her home in Adelaide Cottage that stands on the Windsor grounds and will not be making any public appearances until at least after Easter.
William had notified Constantine’s family of his absence, alerting his widow, Queen Anne-Marie, and their son Crown Prince Pavlos and his wife, Crown Princess Marie-Chantal.
Camilla, 76, arrived without husband King Charles, 75, who is currently undergoing treatment for his cancer.
The Duke of Cambridge also missed out on the Greek monarch’s funeral last January.
His cousin, Lady Gabriella Windsor, stood in his place. The editor, 42, is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin.
A medley of European crown heads descended upon Athens for the burial. Among them were the Princess Royal, 73, and Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
The former Olympian was then buried privately at Tatoi Palace.
Constantine and the Greek royal family were close to their British counterparts. The Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, was a royal of Greek and Danish blood, and was born in Crete.
The Duke of Edinburgh was a first cousin of Constantine’s father, King Paul I.
William is even a godfather to one of Prince Pavlos’ children, Constantine Alexios.
While King Constantine became the sovereign of Greece in 1964, the monarchy was abolished in 1973. He was then exiled to Britain.
This post was originally posted by NYPost
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