Royals from every European household attended the funeral of Constantine II, the former king of Greece, on Monday in Athens to pay their respects.
At the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Princess Royal represented the British royal family, and Lady Gabriella Kingston, daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, represented the Prince of Wales.
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Given their close familial connections to the former Greek royal family – Constantine was Charles’ second cousin and William’s godfather – many royal watchers on social media questioned why King Charles and Prince William did not visit Athens.
While Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace have not disclosed the reasons for their absence, it is customary for royals to send substitutes to occasions like grand weddings and funerals.
Additionally, it’s possible that their schedules conflicted with the funeral’s date and the ensuing travel to and from Greece.
A picture of Charles and Camilla’s meeting with Nicos Anastasiades, the president of the Republic of Cyprus, was posted on his Twitter account on Monday.
Following their Christmas break, the King and the Waleses both returned to their royal duties last week.
The monarch paid a visit to the Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed in Aberdeenshire last Thursday while King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were at their Scottish home, Birkhall.
While the Princess held an early years meeting on Friday, Prince William and Catherine had engagements in Merseyside last week, including helping to open the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
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King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Queen Margrethe of Denmark were among the many heads of state who attended Constantine’s funeral.
