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- By Sean Coughlan
- royal correspondent
Prince William unexpectedly dropped out of attending the memorial service for the late former King Constantine of Greece, where he was due to give a reading.
Kensington Palace said this was due to a “personal matter”.
Queen Camilla led members of the Royal Family in the service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The King, who is being treated for cancer, was also unable to attend the service.
There are no further details about the “personal matter” that prevented the Prince of Wales from being there on Tuesday morning, but royal sources have indicated there is no cause for alarm.
Prince William’s wife Catherine, who is recovering from abdominal surgery last month, continues to improve, Kensington Palace says.
The Prince of Wales called the Greek royal family this morning to tell them he would not be able to join them.
With this year’s succession of royal medical stories, including Catherine’s operation and the King’s prostate procedure and then his cancer diagnosis, there has been much public interest in his health.
But the background music of the palace has been one of tranquility and of not interpreting too much Prince William’s sudden withdrawal.
The service remembered former King Constantine, William’s godfather, who died last year. His eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos, gave the reading in Prince William’s place.
The Queen was conducted from Windsor Castle to the 15th-century chapel and received by the Dean of Windsor, the Reverend Christopher Cocksworth, on the Galilee Porch.
Princess Anne and Prince Andrew were among the royals at the memorial service, along with members of foreign royal families who had traveled to Windsor to attend.
King Charles was close to his second cousin Constantine, who was once a first cousin and sailing companion of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Constantine died at the age of 82 in January last year, decades after being overthrown from the throne in a military coup.
The Princess Royal and the Queen were among family members who attended the service.
The Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, were among the royals in attendance.
There was a large royal turnout at King Constantine’s funeral.
Queen Camilla arriving at the service
Crown Prince Pavlos and his wife Marie-Chantal arrive at St. George’s Chapel