Prince Andrew leads the pack at King Constantine’s memorial service
- King Charles III missed the service as his remedy for most cancers continues
Prince Andrew at present walked the Royal Family into Windsor Castle for a service of thanksgiving for the late King Constantine of Greece in a transfer that proves he’s ‘again within the fold’.
In a unprecedented turnaround after he was banned from royal duties and stripped of his HRH and army titles by his mom the Queen simply two years in the past, the Duke of York led The Firm into church to have fun the lifetime of the final King of Greece.
And in one other unbelievable flip of occasions, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson was by his facet as they marched into St George’s Chapel this morning adopted by their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.
Andrew was at entrance and centre of proceedings as King Charles takes a break from royal duties as he battles most cancers and Prince William missed the service for ‘private causes’.
Queen Camilla arrived individually that means that Andrew, the Queen Elizabeth II‘s second born son, led within the different royals together with Princess Anne.
One royal watcher informed MailOnline: ‘Prince Andrew and the Yorks are firmly again within the fold’.
It got here nearly two years to the day from when the Duke of York settled the sexual assault case filed in opposition to him by Virginia Giuffre, a intercourse slave sufferer of Andrew’s good friend Jeffrey Epstein.
The settlement was by no means disclosed however was estimated to be value round £12 million ($16.3 million). It spared him having to present proof beneath oath at any trial within the US and there have been claims that the Queen helped him pay for it.
Prince Andrew was seen main members of the Royal Family at a service of thanksgiving at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece
Filing behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York , adopted by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall , and Princess Anne
Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, arriving this morning
Prince Andrew was seen main members of the Royal Family at a service of thanksgiving at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece
Princess Alexandra the Honourable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew the Duke of York, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla sat on the entrance row
Queen Camilla is greeted as she attends the thanksgiving service this morning
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on the service at Windsor Castle at present
Zara Tindall attends a thanksgiving service for King Constantine at Windsor at present
The Prince of Wales is known to have referred to as the household to apologise, whereas Kensington Palace confirmed the Princess was ‘doing nicely’ as she recovers at dwelling.
But the Duke of York was pictured main the pack in a uncommon public look as mourners arrived for the service.
Filing behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York, adopted by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Anne.
Although different main royals have been absent, Prince Andrew was joined by Queen Camilla, who appeared to smile as she arrived on the Castle this morning, and was greeted on the door.
She smiled warmly at these gathered to satisfy her, earlier than coming into the venue and adopting a solemn and dignified silence.
They will probably be joined by the late king’s widow Queen Anne-Marie, their eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos and different members of the Greek royal household for the service within the nave of the fifteenth century chapel.
Prince Andrew was current together with Sarah, Duchess of York and his daughters Princess Eugenie and Beatrice as a result of it was deemed a private household occasion.
It can also be 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 the place of the Prince of Wales, Constantine’s eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos stepped in to present the studying.
King Charles was at Windsor Castle earlier within the day however left earlier than the service started – with the reception afterwards set to be hosted by Camilla.
Zara and Mike Tindall and the Princess Royal attend St George’s Chapel
Prince Andrew; Sarah, Duchess of York; and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence at St George’s Chapel in Windsor
Princess Michael of Kent (left) and Prince Michael of Kent attend the service
Zara and Mike Tindall and the Princess Royal attend the service at Windsor Castle at present
Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Princess Catherine of Serbia
Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Thomas Hooper and Lady Alexandra Hooper arrive at St George’s Chapel at present for the thanksgiving service for King Constantine
Charles was unable to attend Constantine’s funeral in Athens final yr due to commitments which included assembly the president of Cyprus. The Princess Royal represented him on the service.
Camilla’s position within the service will see her once more taking the reigns as she works to take the strain off her husband.
Members of the Royal household have rallied across the King, with Prince William returning to duties after spending time caring for his spouse Princess Kate.
Charles’ profound sense of responsibility and robust work ethic has seen him proceed working privately via remedy.
Today’s service at St George’s Chapel was held in honour of the King’s shut good friend and second cousin Constantine II, the previous ruler and final king of Greece.
The King has reportedly sought non secular recommendation from his good friend Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Greek Orthodox Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos.
Abbot Ephraim is claimed to have informed Greek media shops: ‘Yes, he has been involved for the reason that prognosis and I consider he’ll overcome it. Charles has a non secular sophistication, a non secular life.’
Charles, 75, who was identified with an undisclosed type of most cancers simply over a fortnight in the past, is just not finishing up public duties whereas he has remedy.
Constantine was a primary cousin as soon as eliminated and crusing associate of the late Duke of Edinburgh, and died on the age of 82 in January final yr, many years after being toppled from the throne in a army coup.
The King had an in depth friendship with Constantine, selecting him as a godfather for his son William, now the Prince of Wales.
The former king was additionally godfather to the daughter of Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent, Lady Gabriella Kingston.
King Constantine attends church with Charles and Camilla at Sandringham in 2007
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (centre left) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark (centre proper) carry the coffin of King Constantine II throughout a burial at Tatoi in 2023
King Constantine (left) pictured after Prince William’s affirmation as considered one of his godparents
Prince William and Kate Middleton with King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012
King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in 2011
Constantine, who died in an Athens hospital, acceded to the throne on the age of 23 in 1964.
The younger king, who had gained Olympic gold in crusing, was initially vastly well-liked.
By the next yr he had squandered a lot of that help together with his lively involvement within the machinations that introduced down the popularly elected Centre Union authorities of prime minister George Papandreou.
The episode, nonetheless extensively recognized in Greece because the ‘apostasy’ or defection from the ruling occasion of a number of politicians, destabilised the constitutional order and led to a army coup in 1967.
Constantine ultimately clashed with the army rulers and was compelled into exile.
The dictatorship abolished the monarchy in 1973 and a referendum after democracy was restored in 1974 dashed any hopes Constantine had of reigning once more.
He lived in exile for a few years in Hampstead Garden Suburb in north London, earlier than returning to his dwelling nation in 2013.