Princess Anne Represents British Royal Family at Funeral of King Constantine II in Greece

Princess Anne, the princess royal, recently attended the funeral of King Constantine II of Greece as a representative of the British royal family.

King Constantine II, who was famously exiled in the 1960s, was Greece's last monarch.

The funeral, held in Athens, was also attended by other European royalty, including Queen Letizia of Spain and King Philip, the former monarch's nephew.

Princess Anne and her husband, Timothy Lawrence, arrived at Athens Metropolitan Cathedral wearing long black coats to pay tribute to the late Greek king.

As they made their way inside, they were greeted by the public and embraced the monarch's son.

There had been speculations about which member of the British royal family would attend the service, as King Constantine was Prince William's godfather.

Initially, reports suggested that the Prince and Princess of Wales would be present, but Kensington Palace later confirmed that neither of them would attend.

Thousands of people lined up outside the cathedral before dawn on Monday to bid farewell to Greece's last king, who passed away at the age of 82.

Greece's monarchy was officially abolished in a referendum in 1974, and King Constantine spent many years in exile before returning to his home country in his later years.

His wife, Queen Anne Marie of Denmark, is the sister of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, and his sister, Sophia, is the wife of Spain's former King Juan Carlos and the mother of Spain's current monarch, King Philip VI.

Joining these notable figures at the funeral was Queen Anne Marie of Denmark, the king's widow, as well as Crown Prince Pavlos, the couple's eldest son and the new head of the former royal family at the age of 55.

Additionally, around 200 celebrities were also present to pay their respects.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams emphasized the close ties between the British and Greek royal families.

Prince Philip, whom Queen Elizabeth II married in 1947, was a prince of Greece and Denmark and a first cousin once removed to King Constantine.

Prince Philip's father, Prince Andrew of Greece, was the son of King George I of Greece and married Princess Alice of Battenberg.

It was at King Constantine's 60th birthday party that the queen met Camilla Parker-Bowles, who was then Prince Charles' non-negotiable mistress, marking a significant moment.

The attendance of Princess Anne at the funeral further demonstrates the strong connection between the British and Greek royal families.

King Constantine had been admitted to Hagia Hospital, a private hospital in Athens, in early January due to breathing difficulties and received treatment in the intensive care unit.

He was a close friend and second cousin to King Charles, who hosted his 60th birthday celebration at Highgrove, his private residence.

Concerns were raised about King Constantine's health when he was unable to attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, with his wife and two of their children attending on his behalf.

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