Prince William to carry out string of engagements this week after pulling out of his godfather’s memorial service for ‘personal reasons’

Prince William will attend other events later this week after missing yesterday’s memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece, it can be revealed.

The Prince of Wales is said to be ‘looking forward’ to remaining public engagements after retiring from the service due to an unspecified ‘personal matter’.

William is expected to attend a sensitive meeting with members of the Jewish community and other faiths at a synagogue as part of a series of visits to highlight the work of organizations trying to bring peace and relief to the Middle East .

The prince, whose wife Kate is continuing to recover at home after her abdominal surgery, also has a number of appointments on Friday on the occasion of St. David’s Day.

Kensington Palace did not elaborate on why William had to miss yesterday’s service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, but stressed that Kate was ‘doing well’.

William’s name was even printed on the order of service because he was to give a Bible reading from Revelation 21:1-7 in honor of his late godfather.

Kate was last seen on Christmas Day 2023 while her family attended church in Sandringham

Prince William’s title was in yesterday’s order of service, published before he withdrew

Queen Camilla led the royal family at yesterday’s service, attended by a host of Constantine’s relatives and foreign royalty, as King Charles III continues to receive treatment for cancer.

William called the Greek royal family to let them know he was unable to attend, and Crown Prince Pavlos replaced the British heir apparent.

Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to her home at Adelaide Cottage, near Windsor Castle, but is not expected to return to her official duties until after Easter.

William was last seen at the Baftas on February 18, while Kate hasn’t been seen at Sandringham since Christmas.

The king stayed overnight at Windsor Castle but did not meet any of the guests ahead of the service and left before a reception was held at the royal residence afterwards.

Charles was close to his great-nephew Constantine, who was a cousin once removed and sailing partner of the late Duke of Edinburgh.

Constantine died last January at the age of 82, decades after being overthrown by a military coup.

Camilla stood yesterday in Windsor between Princess Anne and the Greek Queen Anne-Marie

Prince Andrew was the most senior royal present at the service yesterday, after Camilla

Guests attend a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine in Windsor yesterday

The king was later seen arriving in the capital, where he is expected to receive further cancer treatment on an outpatient basis.

He was photographed arriving at Clarence House and since his diagnosis he has postponed all public duties, but continues his behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of government papers and his weekly meetings with the Prime Minister.

Constantine was also godfather to Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston.

She did not attend, although her parents did, and it later emerged that Lady Gabriella’s husband Thomas Kingston died suddenly on Sunday – but William’s absence was not related to this.

Lady Gabriella paid tribute to her financier husband in a joint statement with his family, describing him as an ‘exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him’.

They described his death as a ‘big shock for the whole family’.

The King and Queen sent their “most sincere thoughts and prayers” to Lady Gabriella, known as Ella, and Mr Kingston’s parents and siblings.

Andrew leads members of the royal family, including the Tindalls, into St. George’s Chapel yesterday

King Charles III is seen outside Clarence House in London yesterday after leaving Windsor

Zara and Mike Tindall and the Princess Royal attended the service at Windsor Castle yesterday

Yesterday in Windsor included the disgraced Duke of York, who, along with ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, led the main contingent of the British royal family as they walked downhill from the castle to the church.

Andrew smiled as he walked ahead of Sarah, followed by their daughter Princess Beatrice with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall and the King’s cousin Lady Sarah Chatto.

Constantine II’s widow, Queen Anne-Marie, was accompanied by their children, Crown Prince Pavlos, Princess Alexia, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Theodora, Prince Philippos and several of their grandchildren.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major was also invited to the service by the Greek royal family, as were ex-Formula 1 driver Sir Jackie Stewart and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.