Prince William withdrew from a memorial service honoring his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, on Tuesday morning, citing “a personal matter.” This sudden change raised concerns about the well-being of William’s family members, particularly his father, the king, who is undergoing cancer treatment, and his wife, the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from abdominal surgery.
Official sources reassured that Kate’s condition was stable, and King Charles’ office clarified that William’s absence was not related to the king’s health. However, the announcement of William’s cancellation briefly caused panic, highlighting the heightened worries about Charles’ health since his cancer diagnosis was disclosed earlier in the month.
Since the diagnosis, Charles has reduced his public appearances but has endeavored to maintain visibility, sharing photos and videos and being seen traveling to treatment sessions in a Rolls Royce with large windows. In contrast, there has been minimal information regarding Kate’s condition since her hospitalization for surgery in January.
William personally informed King Constantine’s family of his inability to attend the service. Despite William’s absence, other members of the royal family, including Camilla, Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Eugenie, and Beatrice, were present at the memorial.
King Constantine II was the final monarch of Greece, reigning from March 6, 1964, until the abolition of the Greek monarchy on June 1, 1973.