Royal experts warn the Royal Family must be open about Prince William’s absence from engagement after mystery sparked concern for Kate Middleton’s health

The Royal Family’s silence on the reason for Prince William’s last minute absence from his godfather’s memorial is a ‘gift to conspiracy theorists’ following a string of royal health scares, commentators said today. 

William pulled out of attending the service for the late King Constantine of Greece for unspecified ‘personal reasons’ – with King Charles III also absent as his cancer treatment continues.

Queen Camilla was instead the most senior member of the Royal Family in attendance – with Prince Andrew also enjoying a prominent role as he led fellow royals on foot to the service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

No further detail was given on William’s absence, and it is not known if it relates to his wife the Princess of Wales’s recovery after her abdominal surgery last month, although royal sources insisted she was still ‘doing well’ at home.

Royal biographer Phil Dampier told MailOnline that the royals ‘have a right to privacy’ but ‘these are not normal times’ given Charles and Catherine’s recent health issues. 

Prince Andrew leads members of the Royal Family, including the Tindalls, to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle yesterday

The Prince of Wales was last seen attending the Bafta Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 18

The Prince of Wales was last seen attending the Bafta Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 18

The Princess of Wales was last seen on Christmas Day last year attending church at Sandringham

The Princess of Wales was last seen on Christmas Day last year attending church at Sandringham 

‘I’m afraid that if no reason for Prince William pulling out at the last minute is given, there will inevitably be speculation, some of it wild and unfair, but that is the nature of social media these days,’ he said. 

‘There were lurid reports in a Greek publication the other day about Kate’s health, for which there is no evidence, but these rumours get circulated around the world quickly.

‘The Palace made it clear Kate is recovering well and we saw the King return to London from Windsor, possibly for treatment. 

‘But we still don’t know what urgent personal reason led William to cancel. I think he should be more open if the palace wants to avoid speculation.’ 

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams called courtiers’ silence a ‘gift to conspiracy  theorists’. 

‘William would have known that his unexplained absence would make world headlines, despite sources assuring the media that it was not related to Catherine’s health,’ he said. 

‘The Palace has subsequently been silent so speculation continues. 

‘The royal family obviously have a right to privacy, how far that right is exercised is what has always been debated.

‘The absence of clarification when the unexpected occurs is a gift to conspiracy theorists. And clearly, this is a time where the royal family – only four of whose working members are under 70 – is under enormous pressure.’

William was last seen at the Baftas on February 18, while Kate has not been seen since Christmas at Sandringham. 

Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, Queen Anne Marie of Greece and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece following yesterday's service

Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, Queen Anne Marie of Greece and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece following yesterday’s service 

(front row, left to right) Princess Alexandra the Honourable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla at St George's Chapel in Windsor yesterday

(front row, left to right) Princess Alexandra the Honourable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla at St George’s Chapel in Windsor yesterday

King Charles III is seen being driven to Clarence House in London yesterday after leaving Windsor Castle before the service

King Charles III is seen being driven to Clarence House in London yesterday after leaving Windsor Castle before the service

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla appears to wipe her eye at St George’s Chapel in Windsor during yesterday’s thanksgiving service

Kate will remain away from official royal engagements until after Easter following her surgery. As for Charles, he was at Windsor Castle earlier yesterday but left before the service began – with the reception afterwards hosted by Camilla. The King was later photographed waving while being driven into Clarence House, his London residence.

Constantine was the godfather of William, who called the Greek royal family to apologise. The Prince was due to read from Revelation 21:1-7, a popular reading for funerals that begins ‘then I saw a new heaven and a new earth’.

Meanwhile Andrew was present front and centre with Sarah, Duchess of York and his daughter Princesses Beatrice – along with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – because it was deemed a personal family event. 

It is also 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. Andrew’s other daughter Princess Eugenie was not in attendance.

In Charles’s absence from public duties, Camilla has become the most senior royal performing engagements. Another royal source said there was no connection between William’s personal matter and the King’s health.

This year has seen a sudden shortage of frontline royals after Charles and Kate both went into hospital around the same time last month. The family’s health woes have left William shouldering more of the burden of public duties while at the same time supporting Kate and helping care for their three children George, Charlotte and Louis.

Prince Andrew; Sarah, Duchess of York; and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence at St George's Chapel in Windsor

Prince Andrew; Sarah, Duchess of York; and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence at St George’s Chapel in Windsor 

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi depart after attending the thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi depart after attending the thanksgiving service at Windsor Castle 

Charles was admitted for surgery for a benign prostate condition last month, but subsequently diagnosed with an unrelated cancer. The monarch has withdrawn from public-facing duties while he undergoes treatment. Kate underwent abdominal surgery at the same time and is currently recuperating, following a two-week hospital stay.

The British Crown was represented by Princess Anne, Charles’s sister, at Constantine II’s funeral in Greece last year following his death in January 2023. Constantine was the last member of a century-long dynasty, and had reigned for just three years when an army dictatorship seized control of the country in 1967.

Nearly eight months after the junta seized power, Constantine organised a military counter-coup that failed. He fled to Rome with the rest of the royal family and later to London, living in Hampstead. The junta abolished the monarchy in 1973, and Greeks voted not to restore the royal family after the restoration of democracy in 1974.

Yesterday, Andrew led family members including the Princess Royal and Zara and Mike Tindall, who arrived at the chapel after being driven to the castle quadrangle by coach.

The final member of the British royal family to arrive was Camilla, who was driven down from the castle to the 15th century chapel.

She was warmly greeted by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Rev Christopher Cocksworth, at the Galilee Porch.

The order of service still has William's title on it (highlighted in red by MailOnline), as it was produced before he pulled out

The order of service still has William’s title on it (highlighted in red by MailOnline), as it was produced before he pulled out

Yesterday’s service at St George’s Chapel was held in honour of the King’s close friend and second cousin Constantine II, the former ruler and last king of Greece.

Dozens of foreign royals travelled to Windsor to attend the service but the King is not expected to meet them privately.

Constantine’s eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos stepped in to give the reading in William’s place.

The King was close to his second cousin Constantine, who was a first cousin once removed and sailing partner of the late Duke of Edinburgh.

Constantine died aged 82, decades after being toppled from the throne in a military coup.

The King has reportedly sought spiritual advice from his friend Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Greek Orthodox Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos.

Abbot Ephraim is said to have told Greek media outlets: ‘Yes, he has been in contact since the diagnosis and I believe he’ll overcome it. Charles has a spiritual sophistication, a spiritual life.’

Charles, 75, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer just over a fortnight ago, is not carrying out public duties while he has treatment.

Constantine was a first cousin once removed and sailing partner of the late Duke of Edinburgh, and died at the age of 82 in January last year, decades after being toppled from the throne in a military coup.

The King had a close friendship with Constantine, choosing him as a godfather for his son William, now the Prince of Wales.

The former king was also godfather to the daughter of Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent, Lady Gabriella Kingston.

King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in October 2011

King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in October 2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton speak to King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

Prince William and Kate Middleton speak to King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

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