Queen Camilla leading the Royal Family at a Windsor Castle memorial service today shows her value as she steps up to her role with composure, according to an expert.
Camilla was the most senior royal at the event for the late King Constantine of Greece, with her husband King Charles absent as his cancer treatment continues.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said Camilla confirmed herself as her ‘husband’s rock’ and ‘exuded confidence’ around other British and foreign royals.
Prince William pulled out of the service at St George’s Chapel at the last minute for unspecified ‘personal reasons’ – leaving Prince Andrew as the next most senior royal present, as he led others including Princess Anne and Zara and Mike Tindall on foot.
In Charles’s absence from public duties after his cancer diagnosis earlier this month, 76-year-old Camilla has become the most senior royal performing engagements.
It comes as this year has seen a sudden shortage of frontline royals after Charles and William’s wife Kate both went into hospital around the same time last month.
Camilla stands between Princess Anne and Greece’s Queen Anne-Marie in Windsor today
Princess Anne nd Queen Camilla attend the thanksgiving service at St George’s Chapel today
Queen Camilla leaves Windsor Castle this afternoon after the service for King Constantine
The family’s health woes have left Camilla and William shouldering a bigger burden of public duties, with the Prince of Wales also spending much of his time supporting Kate and helping care for their three children George, Charlotte and Louis.
No further detail was given on William’s absence, and it is not known if it relates to the Princess of Wales’s recovery after her abdominal surgery last month.
Today, Mr Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that the Royal Family was going through a ‘very tough time’ – with William pulling out of the service for his godfather having ‘underlined the lack of senior royal figures able to carry out engagements at present’.
He continued: ‘This is a time to keep calm and carry on. It is fortunate that Queen Camilla exemplifies these qualities.
‘King Charles, normally a workaholic, is fighting cancer and cannot perform engagements.
‘The Princess of Wales is recuperating for what must have been a serious illness as she was in hospital for nearly a fortnight. We have not been told what made William miss the service.
‘Also, when the Duke of York turns up with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, it seems surreal. The Queen, wearing a splendid outfit, looked serene and exuded confidence.’
Camilla arrives for the thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine in Windsor today
Queen Camilla is pictured in St George’s Chapel today as she attends the thanksgiving service
King Charles III is seen being driven to Clarence House in London today after leaving Windsor
Mr Fitzwilliams also described Camilla as ‘her husband’s rock’, adding that she has ‘now stepped in to lead the Royal Family.’
He described her hat as ‘spectacular’, saying she ‘looked the part’ and that ‘looks count for a good deal on these occasions’.
Princess Anne previously said of Camilla that she ‘does her role really well’ despite ‘not being a natural’, while a former royal butler Paul Burrell has praised her ‘steady hand on the tiller’.
Camilla admitted six years ago that royal life is ‘tiring’, but has nevertheless stepped up to continue working, leading the nation in her husband’s absence.
Exiting the ceremony today, Camilla appeared confident as she stood by Queen Anne Marie of Greece at the conclusion of the service, with Princess Anne smiling on her right hand side.
As for William, he was last seen at the Baftas on February 18, while Kate has not been seen since Christmas at Sandringham.
The Princess will remain away from official royal engagements until after Easter following her surgery – although royal sources insisted today that she was still ‘doing well’ at home.
The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, lead other members of the royal family today
Guests attend a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine in Windsor this morning
Prince Andrew was the next most senior royal present at the service today, after Camilla
Charles, he was at Windsor Castle earlier in the day 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.
Another royal source said there was no connection between William’s personal matter and the King’s health.
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.
Meanwhile Andrew was present front and centre today 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 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 there.
