More than a year after the death of Constantine of Greece, who died at the age of 82 on January 10, 2023, the British royal family organized this Tuesday, February 27, the first mass in his honor outside the country in which he reigned since 1964. until the military coup d'état of 1967. Queen Camilla has been in charge of presiding over this tribute in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, since King Charles III is away from many of his duties due to the treatment he receives. for his cancer.
William of England was also going to attend the ceremony, and had planned to dedicate a few words in honor of Constantine, but at the last minute he canceled his attendance citing “personal reasons.”
In addition to the news about her father's illness, his wife, Kate Middleton, underwent "planned abdominal surgery" last January, according to the royal house, and is currently still on sick leave, although The specific details of his health remain unknown, except that its origin is “not cancerous.”
According to the British royal house, the eldest son of King Charles III, who was godson of King Constantine, called the Greek royal family to inform them that he would not attend the ceremony.
He will be Constantine's son, Prince Paul, who finally reads for William at the church service.
Numerous representatives of European royal houses have gathered in British territory, and the Spanish Royal Family also wanted to attend this tribute.
Windsor has, therefore, witnessed another reunion between Kings Felipe and Letizia and the emeritus, Juan Carlos and Sofía, sister of the deceased, which is why he has not sat next to them in the third row, but in the first.
The infantas Elena and Cristina, who came in the company of the eldest of her four children, Juan Valentín,
They have also traveled to England for the event in memory of their uncle.
The Kings spent the night in London, the city where they landed last night from Valencia, where they visited the Valencian neighborhood of Campanar after the fire of two residential towers, which claimed the lives of 10 people.
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Queen Camilla has been in charge of presiding over the tribute to Constantine of Greece in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, since King Charles III is away from many of his duties due to the treatment he is receiving for his cancer.Chris Jackson (Getty Images)
Precisely, on January 16, 2023, the funeral of Constantine II in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Saint Mary in Athens led to one of the last public reunions between the Kings and the emeritus, in addition to leaving a somewhat unusual and highly commented image. : that of the kiss of King Felipe VI and Juan Carlos I. Last October, for Princess Leonor's 18th birthday, and last December, for Infanta Elena's 60th birthday, the entire family was also there , although no photographs have emerged of those two celebrations in which they are seen together.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia upon arrival at the funeral for Constantine of Greece at Windsor Palace, this February 27, 2024. Raúl Terrel (Europa Press)
The burial and funeral of the last king of the Greeks was attended by more than 1,500 guests, including members of royal families from all over Europe (and even Noor of Jordan), from Princess Anne of England (sister of King Charles III) to Queen Margaret of Denmark (Constantine's sister-in-law), Kings Maxima and William of Holland (and his mother, Princess Beatrice), Charles Gustav and Silvia of Sweden.
Infantas Elena and Cristina, along with Juan Valentín, Cristina's eldest son, upon their arrival in Windsor.Chris Jackson (Getty Images)
This Tuesday's ceremony was attended by Prince Paul of Greece, the deceased's eldest son and current head of the Greek royal family, who organized this event together with Buckingham Palace.
He was accompanied by his wife, Marie-Chantal Miller, and the dowager queen Anna Maria, as well as Philippos of Greece, youngest son of Kings Constantine and Anna Maria, along with his wife Nina Flohr.
Also attending were Princess Anne, sister of Charles III;
Queen Noor of Jordan, widow of King Hussein;
Prince Andrew, who has arrived accompanied by Sarah Ferguson and her daughter Beatriz;
the aristocrat Penelope Knatchbull, great friend of Elizabeth II and Philip of Edinburgh, or the American politician John Kerry.
Many members of European royalty have gathered for this farewell to Constantine of Greece in Windsor.Jonathan Brady (via REUTERS)
There are historical reasons why the first tribute to Constantine II outside of Greek soil was made in England.
The royal families of the United Kingdom and Greece have always had very close ties that were strengthened when the former Hellenic king chose London as his residence after exile.
Constantine II was also the second cousin of Prince Philip of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Sofia, in the front row with her sister Irene, during the memorial service for her brother.
WPA Pool (Getty Images)
The service, led by the Dean of Windsor, the Reverend Christopher Cocksworth, lasted just over half an hour.
At the end, the image that our royal family has once again left us has caught our attention: King Felipe VI has taken his father, the king emeritus, by the arm to help him leave San Jorge.