London – Prince William will be absent from a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece due to a personal matter, according to a source close to the royal family. The 41-year-old Prince of Wales was expected to attend the remembrance event at Windsor Castle but had to change his plans last-minute.
The source did not provide further details on the reason for Prince William’s absence, but reassured the public that his wife, the Princess of Wales, is recovering well after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. Kate is currently at home recuperating and is not expected to resume royal duties until after Easter.
In addition to Prince William, King Charles III is also unable to attend the service as he continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. The 75-year-old monarch recently expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support he has received since his cancer diagnosis.
Despite Prince William’s absence, Queen Camilla is leading the royal family in honoring the last Greek monarch at St. George’s Chapel. Constantine II of Greece, who passed away in January last year at the age of 82, was a second cousin to King Charles III.
The relationship between Charles and Constantine was close, with the British royal even naming his cousin as the godfather to his firstborn son, William. Following a military coup in 1967, Constantine and his family sought refuge in Rome while a regent was appointed by the military regime to take his place.
The Greek monarchy was officially abolished on June 1, 1973, with the country declared a republic after a referendum supported the decision. Constantine accepted the abolition after a subsequent referendum conducted by an elected civilian government in 1974.