Queen Camilla to lead memorial service for Prince William's godfather as King Charles to miss event

Queen Camilla to lead memorial service for Prince William's godfather as King Charles to miss event

Watch: Robert Hardman discuss King Charles's cancer diagnosis

GB News
Hannah Ross

By Hannah Ross


Published: 22/02/2024

- 08:35

Updated: 22/02/2024

- 08:37

King Constantine II of Greece died at the age of 82 in January last year

King Charles is set to miss a memorial service led by Camilla for his friend and second cousin, the late King of Greece.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Queen will lead the royals in a thanksgiving service for King Constantine at Windsor Castle.


The British royals will be joined by King Constantine’s family including his wife, Queen Anne-Marie, and his eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos.

The royals will honour the last King of Greece at a tribute service at St George’s Chapel on Tuesday 27 February.

King Charles and King Constantine

King Charles and King Constantine were second cousins and close friends

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King Charles was a close friend to his Greek relative, Constantine, who was also godfather to Prince William.

The monarch, who was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer, is currently not undertaking public engagements as he undergoes cancer treatment.

Charles and Constantine were second cousins through their fathers; Prince Philip and Constantine’s father, King Paul of Greece, were first cousins.

The last Greek King also has family ties to royal families in Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Norway.

King Constantine, Queen Anne-Marie, King Charles and Camilla

Queen Camilla will lead a memorial service for the late King Constantine at Windsor Castle

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The late King’s wife, Anne-Marie is the youngest sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who recently made headlines by abdicating the throne to be succeeded by her eldest son, King Fredrik X.

Constantine died at the age of 82 on 10 January 2023 after spending a number of years ill.

A number of British royals attended his funeral in Athens including the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Constantine and Marie-Anne have five children: Princess Alexia, Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos.

Kate, William and Constantine

King Constantine was godfather to Prince William

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King Constantine and Anne-Marie

King Constantine and Anne-Marie in Corfu, Greece in 1964.

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Constantine ascended to the throne in 1964 at the age of 23 during a tense period of Greek History.

After a few years in power, the King was forced to flee the country following a military coup in 1967.

The Greek King and his family fled to Rome and eventually to the UK where they lived in Hampstead, North London for 46 years.

The monarchy was officially abolished in 1973 and the King did not officially return to Greece until 2013.

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