Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York arrive for the service.credit: AP
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, made a rare public appearance, leading a group of his family members, including his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, and Princess Beatrice. Zara and Mike Tindall arrived at the church by bus.
Andrew, who attended in his personal capacity at the invitation of the Greek Royal Family, was warmly welcomed on his arrival by the Reverend Christopher Coxworth, Dean of Windsor, and seated in the front row.
Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece leave the Thanksgiving service.credit: GT
Princess Anne, 73, who has just returned from Namibia, where she attended a memorial service for late President Hage Geingob on behalf of the king, was also present with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were joined by Princess Alexandra, 87, who was in a wheelchair, her daughter Marina Ogilvie, and the Duke of Kent, 88.
Other guests attending the somber hour-long service included Sir Jackie Stewart, the former Formula 1 world champion, and Penny Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, both close friends of the royal family.
The 76-year-old queen was all smiles as she arrived at the church entrance shortly before 11am wearing a wide-brimmed navy hat, striped jacket and skirt.
Thanksgiving service for King Constantine, King of the Hellenes, in the Church of St. George.credit: GT
As she took her seat inside, she had a short conversation with Princess Anne, who was sitting next to her.
The dean, who submitted the bid, said that King Constantine, who was forced into exile after a military coup, “lived through times of great change and challenges.”
He added: “We thank him for his unwavering commitment to the benefit of his people, his unwavering love for his wife and family, and his ability to face the future with hope and faith even in the face of adversity.”
first reading, Ithaca Written by CP Cavafy, read by King Constantine's children – Princess Theodora, Prince Nikolaos, Princess Alexia, and Prince Philippos.
Princess Alexia of Greece, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, (second row from left to right) Carlos Morales and Princess Tatiana of Greece attend the service.credit: GT
reading bible, Revelation 21:1-7 What was intended to be given by Prince William was instead given to the late king's eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos.
The service ended with the Russian Orthodox hymn known as Kontakion of the Departed, which was sung at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral in April 2021.
The Queen later hosted a private reception for guests, including Queen Anne-Marie, the former Queen of the Hellenes, at Windsor Castle, a stone's throw from Adelaide House, home of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
Catherine was admitted to a private London clinic for abdominal surgery on 17 January. She was discharged from hospital after about two weeks and is now recovering at her home in Windsor. She is not expected to return to work until after Easter.
All smiles: Prince William and Princess Catherine in 2023.credit: GT
William immediately canceled all his diary engagements to care for his wife and their three children. He has only performed a few public duties since she was discharged from the hospital.
The king was admitted to a London clinic to be treated for an enlarged prostate a few days after his daughter-in-law underwent surgery.
During the procedure, more tests were performed, and days later it was revealed that he had an unknown type of cancer, prompting him to cancel all public duties while undergoing treatment.
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Constantine, the last king of Greece, who ruled from 1964 to 1973, died on January 10 last year at the age of 82.
Constantine was godfather to William and Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
He was a first cousin and sailing partner of the late Prince Philip, and enjoyed a close friendship with the King.
At his 60th birthday party at Highgrove in 2000, Prince Charles finally introduced Camilla Parker Bowles to his mother, Elizabeth II.
Young Konstantin, who won an Olympic gold medal in sailing, was initially very popular.
Front row (left to right) Brigitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence and (second row left to right) Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Sarah, Duchess of York attend the Thanksgiving service for King Constantine of Hellenism in Church of Saint George.credit: GT
But he wasted much of this support by actively participating in the machinations that brought down the popularly elected Center Union government headed by then Prime Minister George Papandreou.
This incident, still widely known in Greece as “apostasy” or defection from the ruling party of many politicians, destabilized the constitutional order and led to a military coup in 1967.
Eventually, Constantine clashed with the military rulers and was forced into exile.
The dictatorship abolished the monarchy in 1973, and a referendum after democracy was restored in 1974 dashed any hopes Constantine had of ruling again.
He lived in exile for many years in the north London suburb of Hampstead Garden before returning to his homeland in 2013.
The Telegraph, London
