The Greek royal family holds a private thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine, a day after the Windsor service led by Queen Camilla and attended by European royalty
The Greek royal family gathered yesterday to attend the memorial service for King Constantine in London.
King Constantine of the Hellenes died on January 10 last year at the age of 82 after months of illness – more than 50 years after he was exiled in a military coup.
The thanksgiving service took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia and was a more intimate occasion compared to the late King’s Windsor commemoration on Tuesday, which was attended by members of the Greek, British, Spanish and Danish royal families.
Members of the family, including King Constantine’s eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos, 56, and his wife Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, 55, gathered outside the church before the service.
Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece appeared in good spirits as he waited outside the Greek Orthodox Church in London to attend the thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes
Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece (left) greeted her 27-year-old daughter Princess Olympia (right) with a kiss outside the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Sophia
The head of the Greek royal family opted for a navy blue double-breasted suit for the occasion, while his wife looked elegant in a teal belted jacket.
Model Crown Princess Olympia, 27, wore an oversized black wool coat outside the church for the occasion.
Olympia’s brothers, Prince Odysseas-Kimon and Achileas-Andreas, looked just as smart as they waited next to the Greek Orthodox priest outside the church.
Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, 37, looked dapper on arrival in a navy blue suit, while his wife, Princess Nina-Nastassja Flohr, also 37, cut a chic figure in a blue dress with a ruffled collar.
Dowager Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, 77, also followed the navy theme, wearing a mid-length blue coat with a matching leather bag and heels.
Yesterday’s event followed Tuesday’s service at St George’s Chapel, which was attended by members of the Greek, British, Spanish and Danish royal families.
The Prince of Wales, 41, was expected to give a lecture at the service of his late godfather but pulled out at the last minute due to personal reasons, leaving Queen Camilla to represent the British royal family.
Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark and Princess Nina-Nastassja Flohr both wore naval ensembles for the occasion
Marie-Chantal looked chic in a mid-length teal coat as she accompanied her husband to church
King Constantine’s eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos, led the Greek royal family in the thanksgiving service together with his wife Chantal-Marie.
Queen Letizia, 51, looked solemn in a navy blue knee-length dress, which she teamed with matching heels and a scarf.
The mother-of-two arrived arm in arm with her husband King Felipe, whose mother Queen Sofia, 85, was King Constantine’s older sister.
In addition, disgraced former Spanish king Juan Carlos – who now lives in the United Arab Emirates after abdicating in 2014 – was also in attendance.
King Constantine’s younger sister, Princess Irene of Denmark, 81, also attended today’s commemoration and was pictured next to her sister Sofia.
The service in St. George’s Chapel was held in honor of King Charles’ close friend and great-nephew, Constantine II, the former ruler of Greece.
Prince Odysseas-Kimon (back left) and Prince Achileas-Andreas (back right) waited for the thanksgiving service together with the Greek Orthodox priest
Pavlos completed his outfit with a bracelet with black beads and a gold signet ring with a blue stone
Princess Theodora of Greece and Mr Matthew Kumar joined the others at the service in London yesterday
Queen Anne-Marie was all smiles as she arrived at the London church for the thanksgiving service
The late king – the only son of King Paul and Queen Frederica – was also the Duke of Edinburgh’s cousin and Prince William’s godfather.
Prince Andrew was spotted with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at the Thanksgiving service.
It is believed that the Duke of York was invited by the Greek royal family to attend the event.
King Constantine’s funeral was attended by Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, in January 2023.
Constantine became king of Greece in 1964, but was ousted from the throne when the monarchy was abolished in 1973.
King Charles was not expected to attend his memorial service in Windsor after retiring from public life following his cancer diagnosis.
Usually dressed in blue, one of Greece’s national colors, the family gathered outside the church
Queen Anne Marie looked cheerful as she watched her extended family greet each other at the event
Princess Tatiana of Greece (left) cut a chic figure in navy blue ensemble and added a touch of glamor with several pearl necklaces
Camilla’s role in the agency saw her once again take charge as she worked to take the pressure off her husband.
Members of the royal family have rallied behind the king, with Prince William returning to his duties after spending time caring for his wife, Princess Kate.
Due to a separate health crisis, the Princess of Wales was admitted to the London Clinic for a planned abdominal operation, and will be unable to fulfill royal duties until at least Easter.
Last month, Greece’s royal family put on a somber display as they attended a memorial service to mark one year since the death of King Constantine.
He died “of a stroke”, local media reported, after several hospital admissions in the previous months.
High-profile royals including Constantine’s son Crown Prince Pavlos and Dowager Queen Anne Marie attended a private ceremony at the former summer palace of Tatoi, just outside Athens.
Last year, Crown Princess Olympia split from her boyfriend of three years Peregrine Pearson – shortly before the aristocrat was pictured kissing Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner.