Prince Andrew leads the Royal reserves: Smiling Duke heads into church ahead of Princess Anne - as Zara, Mike, Fergie and Beatrice are drafted in to flesh out the slimmed-down Monarchy with the King, Kate and now Wills off-duty

Prince Andrew smiled today as he walked the Royal Family into Windsor Castle alongside Sarah Ferguson for a service of thanksgiving for the late King Constantine of Greece in a move that proves he is 'back in the fold'.

In an extraordinary turnaround after he was banned from royal duties and stripped of his HRH and military titles by his mother the Queen just two years ago, the Duke of York led The Firm into church to celebrate the life of the last King of Greece.

One royal watcher told MailOnline: 'Prince Andrew and the Yorks are firmly back in the fold'. 

Andrew was at front and centre of proceedings as King Charles takes a break from royal duties as he battles cancer and Prince William missed the service for 'personal reasons'. Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh were also absent.

Queen Camilla took the reins but arrived separately meaning that Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's second born son, stepped forward and led in the more minor royals including Princess Anne, her daughter Zara and husband Mike Tindall. 

And in another incredible turn of events, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson was by his side as they marched into St George's Chapel this morning followed by their daughter Beatrice.

As for William, no further detail was given on his absence, and it is not known if it relates to his wife the Princess of Wales 's recovery after her abdominal surgery last month, although royal sources insisted she was still 'doing well' at home.

William was last seen at the Baftas on February 18, while Kate has not been seen since Christmas at Sandringham. Kate will remain away from official royal engagements until after Easter following her surgery.

Biographer and royal expert Phil Dampier told MailOnline today that Andrew had seized his chance and still clearly hopes he can make a full comeback, with Fergie close behind.

He said: 'We have been reminded of the fragility of the situation and Andrew will probably be encouraged to think he can one day make some sort of comeback, although it’s not likely for at least a year or two, if ever'.

It is the first time the Duke of York has attended a public event since the Christmas Day service at Sandringham. And it came almost two years to the day from when he settled the sexual assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre, a sex slave victim of Andrew's friend Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family at a service of thanksgiving at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, smiling while arriving this morning

Filing behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York , followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall , and Princess Anne

Prince Andrew was seen leading members of the Royal Family at a service of thanksgiving at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece

Princess Alexandra the Honourable Lady of Ogilvy, Marina Ogilvy, Prince Andrew the Duke of York, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal and Queen Camilla sat on the front row

Queen Camilla is greeted as she attends the thanksgiving service this morning

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the service at Windsor Castle today

Zara Tindall attends a thanksgiving service for King Constantine at Windsor today

The settlement was never disclosed but was estimated to be worth around £12million ($16.3million). It spared him having to give evidence under oath at any trial in the US and there were claims that the Queen helped him pay for it. 

Phil Dampier has said absence of the King and Prince William shows how ‘fragile’ 2024 has been for the Windsors, and it has ‘encouraged’ the Duke of York to take the lead, Mr Dampier claimed.

He said: ‘It’s quite extraordinary that Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson were front and centre as they walked into the Chapel, almost like the old days.

'Yes, it was a private family event but it was a large turnout of royals seen by the public.

FEBRUARY 18 -- The Prince of Wales was last seen attending the Bafta Film Awards 2024 at the Royal Festival Hall in London

DECEMBER 25, 2023 -- The Princess of Wales was last seen on Christmas Day last year attending church at Sandringham 

'Without the King, William and Kate the overall image is that of a slimmed down monarchy which is perhaps now too slimmed down.

'Queen Camilla has been doing a superb job holding it together, as has the Princess Royal'.

The Prince of Wales is understood to have called the family to apologise, while Kensington Palace confirmed the Princess was 'doing well' as she recovers at home. 

But the Duke of York was pictured leading the pack in a rare public appearance as mourners arrived for the service.

Filing behind Prince Andrew was Sarah, the Duchess of York, followed by Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Anne.

Although other major royals were absent, Prince Andrew was joined by Queen Camilla, who  appeared to grin as she arrived at the Castle this morning, and was greeted at the door.

She smiled warmly at those gathered to meet her, before entering the venue and adopting a solemn and dignified silence.

They will be joined by the late king's widow Queen Anne-Marie, their eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos and other members of the Greek royal family for the service in the nave of the 15th century chapel.

Prince Andrew was present along with Sarah, Duchess of York because it was deemed a personal family event.

It is also understood that the Duke of York was attending the service as a member of the British Royal Family and had been invited by the Greek Royal Family.

In the place of the Prince of Wales, Constantine's eldest son Crown Prince Pavlos stepped in to give the reading.

King Charles was at Windsor Castle earlier in the day but left before the service began - with the reception afterwards set to be hosted by Camilla.

Zara and Mike Tindall and the Princess Royal attend St George's Chapel

Prince Andrew; Sarah, Duchess of York; and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence at St George's Chapel in Windsor

Princess Michael of Kent (left) and Prince Michael of Kent attend the service

 Zara and Mike Tindall and the Princess Royal attend the service at Windsor Castle today 

Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Princess Catherine of Serbia

Penelope Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Thomas Hooper and Lady Alexandra Hooper arrive at St George's Chapel today for the thanksgiving service for King Constantine

Charles was unable to attend Constantine's funeral in Athens last year because of commitments which included meeting the president of Cyprus. The Princess Royal represented him at the service.

Camilla's role in the service will see her again taking the reigns as she works to take the pressure off her husband.

Members of the Royal family have rallied around the King, with Prince William returning to duties after spending time caring for his wife Princess Kate.

Charles' profound sense of duty and strong work ethic has seen him continue working privately through treatment.

Today's service at St George's Chapel was held in honour of the King's close friend and second cousin Constantine II, the former ruler and last king of Greece.

The King has reportedly sought spiritual advice from his friend Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Greek Orthodox Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos.

Abbot Ephraim is said to have told Greek media outlets: 'Yes, he has been in contact since the diagnosis and I believe he'll overcome it. Charles has a spiritual sophistication, a spiritual life.'

Charles, 75, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer just over a fortnight ago, is not carrying out public duties while he has treatment.

Constantine was a first cousin once removed and sailing partner of the late Duke of Edinburgh, and died at the age of 82 in January last year, decades after being toppled from the throne in a military coup.

The King had a close friendship with Constantine, choosing him as a godfather for his son William, now the Prince of Wales.

The former king was also godfather to the daughter of Prince and Princess of Michael of Kent, Lady Gabriella Kingston.

King Constantine attends church with Charles and Camilla at Sandringham in 2007

Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece (centre left) and Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark (centre right) carry the coffin of King Constantine II during a burial at Tatoi in 2023

King Constantine (left) pictured after Prince William's confirmation as one of his godparents

Prince William and Kate Middleton with King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

King Constantine II and Queen Elizabeth II at Wellington College in Berkshire in 2011

Constantine, who died in an Athens hospital, acceded to the throne at the age of 23 in 1964.

The young king, who had won Olympic gold in sailing, was initially hugely popular.

By the following year he had squandered much of that support with his active involvement in the machinations that brought down the popularly elected Centre Union government of prime minister George Papandreou.

The episode, still widely known in Greece as the 'apostasy' or defection from the ruling party of several politicians, destabilised the constitutional order and led to a military coup in 1967.

Constantine eventually clashed with the military rulers and was forced into exile.

The dictatorship abolished the monarchy in 1973 and a referendum after democracy was restored in 1974 dashed any hopes Constantine had of reigning again.

He lived in exile for many years in Hampstead Garden Suburb in north London, before returning to his home country in 2013.