“Unfortunately, the Prince of Wales is no longer able to attend the King Constantine Memorial Service this morning due to a personal matter,” Kensington Palace said on Tuesday.

William, who was due to deliver a reading, called the Greek royal family who went to the service in St George’s Chapel to let them know he was unable to attend.

The palace declined to give any further details but it comes after his wife Kate, 42, underwent abdominal surgery in January.

Officials have previously said Kate was making good progress in her recovery and following the announcement on Tuesday, a royal source said Kate was continuing to do well.

It is rare, but not unheard of, for the British royals to pull out of an engagement.

Following Kate’s operation, William, the 41-year-old heir to the throne, postponed official duties to care for their three children before resuming engagements earlier in February.

His wife is not due to return to public events until after Easter.

His absence comes as his father King Charles, 75, is also unable to perform his public role as he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

Another royal source said there was no connection between William’s personal matter and the King’s health.

In Charles’ absence, his wife Camilla has become the most senior royal performing engagements.

She was joined by other senior royals at the service at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine II, who was a relation of William’s grandfather, Prince Philip.

He died aged 82 in January 2023, decades after being toppled from the throne in a military coup.

with PA