William’s last-minute absence reveals our monarchy is perilously small

Elegant in pinstripe and one in every of her trademark voluminous feathered hats, Queen Camilla led the Royal Family at at the moment’s service of thanksgiving at Windsor for the lifetime of King Constantine of Greece.

Smiling and greeting fellow topped heads of Europe warmly, Her Majesty’s de facto position as head of the household agency in her husband’s absence was set to be the story of the day.

In her place she would, remarkably, have taken priority – even with out the King by her aspect – over the inheritor to the throne, the Prince of Wales, demonstrating simply how considerably the royal pecking order has modified in recent times.

But simply 46 minutes earlier than the service at St George’s Chapel was as a result of begin, a message from Kensington Palace dropped on my cellphone as I stood ready within the fort’s Lower Ward for the royal social gathering to reach, prompting ripples of concern.

William, his spokesman stated, would sadly be ‘no longer able to attend the King Constantine Memorial Service this morning due to a personal matter’.

It is known that he personally referred to as the late Greek king’s household to allow them to know he was unable to attend.

The spokesman refused to be drawn any additional on what the matter is perhaps, or when the prince grew to become conscious he must pull out.

Nor would they are saying if it had something to do together with his spouse’s ongoing medical points (Kate is just not anticipated to be seen in public till after Easter as she recovers from unspecified stomach surgical procedure) though they added in response to my query that ‘the Princess of Wales continues to be doing well’.

There is little doubt, although, that the choice was eye-wateringly final minute – usually anathema to the royals, who know the way a lot work goes into organising occasions resembling this and the way a lot their absence might be publicly remarked upon, particularly within the present local weather.

And it did little to calm the air of jitteriness swirling round our ever-dwindling Royal Family.

I famous that William’s title was even printed within the Order of Service as he had been as a result of give the second studying – Revelation 21. 1-7 – in honour of his late godfather, the affable, exiled Constantine II, who died in Athens final month on the age of 82.

Of course, there could also be a superbly mundane purpose that necessitated the prince to tug out at such quick discover (and sources insisted to me – emphasised in capital letters – that there was ‘NOTHING to panic about’).

But William’s last-minute absence happens in opposition to a backdrop of each his spouse’s medical points in addition to the King’s shock most cancers analysis and ongoing remedy, making these worrying days for the Royal Family.

Indeed, it was noticeable to these of us at Windsor at the moment that His Majesty, who has spent the previous few days recuperating on the fort following his newest bout of remedy, left for London little greater than an hour earlier than the service started for additional medical intervention and conferences.

While the nation holds its breath and desires His Majesty effectively, we’re all additionally deeply aware that an more and more heavy burden rests on the shoulders of William and his spouse, to not point out their younger household.

It is one made all of the extra acute by the absence of his former ‘wingman’, Prince Harry, the self-deposed ‘spare’.

Watching our unintentionally slimmed-down household stroll into the chapel by means of the Galilee Porch at the moment solely emphasised the fragility of the present set-up.

The solely two senior working royals current had been Queen Camilla and her sister-in-law, Princess Anne (accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and her daughter, Zara Tindall, with husband Mike) who’re doing a sterling job however are each effectively into their 70s.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, subsequent in line, each had earlier work-related engagements at the moment.

Other royals current, who’re nonetheless endeavor restricted public duties, had been the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, all of whom are of their 80s.

The aged Prince and Princess Michael of Kent had been additionally current, however neither perform any formal royal roles.

The different notable royal on parade was the Duke of York, who regarded (maybe predictably) delighted as he strode forwards to guide the household group down from the fort to church on foot.

He was accompanied by his ex-wife, Sarah, reassuringly radiant in gray regardless of her ongoing most cancers battles, and their daughter, Princess Beatrice.

While Palace employees had been at pains to emphasize that Andrew was solely current as a member of the Royal Family in a non-public capability and on the invitation of Crown Prince Pavlos, Constantine’s son, and widow, Queen Anne Marie, his swift assumption of a spot on the head of the social gathering didn’t go unnoticed.

As British royals arrive in ascending degree of rank, Queen Camilla was final to enter within the State Bentley for the 11am occasion.

But that also failed to clarify why disgraced Andrew led the remainder of the household forward of her, and could also be interpreted by some as one more try to inveigle his manner again into the ranks.

The service itself noticed 330 company, many members of European royalty, cram into St George’s Chapel, the place Prince Philip – first cousin of King Constantine – is laid to relaxation, alongside Queen Elizabeth.

The mourners included one king – Felipe of Spain – and three queens, Anne-Marie of the Hellenes, the late King’s window, the glamorous Letizia of Spain, and Noor Al-Hussein of Jordan.

The congregation additionally boasted two Crown princes and princesses, 13 princesses, 9 princes, three dukes, two duchesses, two infants and too many minor royals and members of aristocratic households to rely.

They represented an enormous array of nations – from Spain to Jordan, Denmark, Bulgaria, Serbia and the Netherlands – and are linked by lineage or place, in addition to affection, to the British royals.

It was, undoubtedly, the most important gathering of royals seen within the UK – and nearly definitely the world – for the reason that dying of Queen Elizabeth and His Majesty’s Coronation.

Indeed, I perceive that though the service was organised by the Greek royal household, the invitation to maintain King Constantine’s memorial within the royal chapel at Windsor was prolonged personally by the King.

His spouse even hosted a reception for company afterwards within the Great Hall again up on the fort, though Camilla herself stayed just for the primary quarter-hour.

There is little doubt that it could have pained King Charles to overlook such a gathering, not least as a result of he was extraordinarily keen on his first cousin as soon as eliminated, ‘King Con’.

As a youthful man Charles steadily holidayed with him and his sister, Sophia, spouse of Spain’s former King Juan Carlos, alongside together with his first spouse Diana, Princess of Wales (notably King Juan Carlos, who abdicated from his throne in 2014 amid a swirl of monetary and private scandal, was additionally current at the moment).

While a sombre event, with various tears shed, there was additionally an air of celebration of the final king of Greece, who ascended the throne on the age of 23 and reigned from 1964 till he was deposed in 1973.

For years, the father-of-five lived in exile in London and his kids – Princess Alexia, Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos – are acquainted figures in society circles.

As they returned to the fort, the speak among the many social gathering would nearly definitely have centered on their reminiscences of the late king of Greece, but additionally on the well being of our current British one – and the absence of his son and inheritor (for whom the dashing Crown Prince Pavlos stepped in).

Fortunately, I can reveal, William might be seen once more in public this week.

He is, I’m advised, ‘looking forward’ to endeavor his remaining engagements: a delicate assembly with members of the Jewish neighborhood and different faiths at a synagogue as a part of a collection of visits to focus on the work of organisations attempting to carry peace and aid to the Middle East, in addition to a variety of engagements to mark St David’s Day on Friday.

His return to a extra forward-facing position will little doubt carry a crumb of consolation to the thousands and thousands who want him effectively.

But his sudden – and unexplained – absence at the moment amid an abundance of European royals sadly reminds of us how perilously small and fragile our personal monarchy now finds itself.