Home US Prince Andrew leads the pack at King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service: Duke of York grins as he greets royal guests and takes them to their seats in rare public appearance alongside ex-wife Fergie

Prince Andrew leads the pack at King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service: Duke of York grins as he greets royal guests and takes them to their seats in rare public appearance alongside ex-wife Fergie

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Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

King Charles III missed the service as he continues his cancer treatment, while Prince William was due to give a reading but withdrew for “personal reasons”.

The Prince of Wales is understood to have called the family to apologize, while Kensington Palace confirmed the Princess was “doing well” as she recovers at home.

But the Duke of York was pictured leading the group in a rare public appearance as mourners arrived at the service.

Behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York, followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Anne.

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York, followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Anne.

Behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York, followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Anne.

Behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York, followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Anne.

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, arrive this morning

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, arrive this morning

Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, arrive this morning

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family in a thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Royal and Queen Camilla, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence , the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla sat in the front row.

Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Royal and Queen Camilla, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence , the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla sat in the front row.

Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Royal and Queen Camilla, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence , the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla sat in the front row.

Queen Camilla is greeted as she attends the Thanksgiving service this morning

Queen Camilla is greeted as she attends the Thanksgiving service this morning

Queen Camilla is greeted as she attends the Thanksgiving service this morning

Although other senior royals were absent, Prince Andrew was joined by Queen Camilla, who appeared to smile as she arrived at the Castle this morning and was greeted at the door.

She smiled warmly at those who gathered to receive her, before entering the place and adopting a solemn and dignified silence.

They will be joined by the late king’s widow Queen Anne Mary, his eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos and other members of the Greek royal family for the service in the 15th-century chapel nave.

Prince Andrew was present along with Sarah, Duchess of York and their daughters, Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, because it was considered a personal family event.

It is also understood that the Duke of York was attending the service as a member of the British royal family and had been invited by the Greek royal family.

In place of the Prince of Wales, Constantine’s eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos, stepped in to give the reading.

King Charles was at Windsor Castle earlier in the day, but left before the service began, and the subsequent reception would be hosted by Camilla.

Charles was unable to attend Constantine’s funeral in Athens last year due to commitments that included meeting the president of Cyprus. The Princess Royal represented him at the service.

King Constantine attends church with Charles and Camilla at Sandringham in 2007.

King Constantine attends church with Charles and Camilla at Sandringham in 2007.

King Constantine attends church with Charles and Camilla at Sandringham in 2007.

King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in 2011

King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in 2011

King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton with King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

Prince William and Kate Middleton with King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

Prince William and Kate Middleton with King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

Camilla’s role in the service will see her take the reins again as she works to take the pressure off her husband.

Members of the royal family have rallied around the King, and Prince William has returned to duty after spending time caring for his wife, Princess Kate.

Charles’ deep sense of duty and strong work ethic have led him to continue working privately during treatment.

Today’s service at St George’s Chapel was held in honor of the king’s close friend and second cousin, Constantine II, former ruler and last king of Greece.

The king reportedly sought spiritual advice from his friend Archimandrite Ephraim, abbot of the Greek Orthodox Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos.

Abbot Ephraim is reported to have told Greek media: “Yes, he has been in contact since the diagnosis and I think he will get over it.” Charles has a spiritual sophistication, a spiritual life.

Charles, 75, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer just over a fortnight ago, will not carry out public duties while he receives treatment.

Constantine was a first cousin and sailing companion of the late Duke of Edinburgh, and died at the age of 82 in January last year, decades after being overthrown from the throne in a military coup.

The king had a close friendship with Constantine, and chose him as godfather to his son William, now Prince of Wales.

The former king was also godfather to Prince Michael and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter, Lady Gabriella Kingston.

Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (center left) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark (center right) carry the coffin of King Constantine II during a burial in Tatoi in 2023.

Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (center left) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark (center right) carry the coffin of King Constantine II during a burial in Tatoi in 2023.

Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (center left) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark (center right) carry the coffin of King Constantine II during a burial in Tatoi in 2023.

King Constantine (left) pictured after Prince William's confirmation as one of his godfathers.

King Constantine (left) pictured after Prince William's confirmation as one of his godfathers.

King Constantine (left) pictured after Prince William’s confirmation as one of his godfathers.

Constantine, who died in an Athens hospital, acceded to the throne at the age of 23 in 1964.

The young king, who had won Olympic gold in sailing, initially enjoyed great popularity.

By the following year, he had squandered much of that support by actively participating in the machinations that toppled Prime Minister George Papandreou’s popularly elected Center Union government.

The episode, still widely known in Greece as the “apostasy” or defection from the ruling party of several politicians, destabilized the constitutional order and led to a military coup in 1967.

Constantine eventually clashed with the military rulers and was forced into exile.

The dictatorship abolished the monarchy in 1973 and a referendum after democracy was restored in 1974 ended any hope Constantine had of reigning again.

He lived in exile for many years in Hampstead Garden Suburb, north London, before returning to his home country in 2013.

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