William pulled out of King Constantine of Greece's memorial service at St George's Chapel because of Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis

Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his godfather King Constantine of Greece due to his wife Kate being diagnosed with cancer.

The Prince of Wales' absence from the St George's Chapel event at Windsor Castle on February 27 had raised eyebrows, but tonight's revelation about the princess's health has shed new light on why he stayed away.

Kate had been diagnosed with cancer, it was revealed tonight - after Buckingham Palace had initially said the previous month her condition was non-cancerous. 

The princess is now on what has been described as a 'recovery pathway' having commenced a course of chemotherapy in late February.

It is for this reason that William pulled out of a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece.

Prince William, pictured here in Sheffield on Tuesday this week, did not attend a memorial service for King Constantine of Greece in February because of Kate's cancer diagnosis

Prince Andrew led the way as other Royal Family members attended the event on February 27

William's wife Kate has revealed tonight she has been diagnosed with cancer

William has already been adjusting his royal duties to devote even more time to his family after Kate was first admitted to the London Clinic in January.

The couple have both been dedicated to doing their fair share of the school run each morning and afternoon since their three children began attending £24,000-a-year Lambrook School near Ascot in Berkshire in September 2022.

The prince has already been adjusting his royal duties to devote even more time to his family after Kate was first admitted to the London Clinic in January.

The co-ed institution is not far from the family's Frogmore Cottage home on the Windsor estate - and is also convenient for visits by the princess's parents.

Carole and Michael Middleton live just 33 miles away in Bucklebury, Berkshire, and the strong mother-daughter bond has been a key feature of troubled recent months.

Kate's siblings Pippa, 40, and James, 36, are also close at hand in Bucklebury. 

William's decision not to attend the memorial service for King Constantine came as a surprise at the time, with the reason described as 'personal reasons'.

Also missing was his father King Charles, himself receiving treatment for cancer.

Queen Camilla was instead the most senior member of the Royal Family in attendance, with William's uncle Prince Andrew also enjoying a prominent role as he led fellow royals on foot to the service.

Constantine was the godfather of William, who is said to have called the Greek royal family to apologise for not being there. 

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, smiling while arriving at the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece on February 27

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

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

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

Prince William and Kate were seen leaving Windsor together on March 11 this year 

The Prince was due to read from Revelation 21:1-7, a popular reading for funerals that begins 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth'.

He had cleared his diary of official duties to help support Kate's recovery, although did visit a homelessness charity's base in Sheffield on Tuesday this week.

The couple were seen being driven from Windsor on March 11, although only William attended that afternoon's Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in central London while Kate continued on to a private appointment elsewhere.

Their children Prince George, 10, eight-year-old Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, five, all attend Lambrook School which starts its summer term on April 17. 

William and Kate are believed to have been sharing 'school run' duties but William has now been taking on more responsibilities - as have Kate's parents Carole, 69, and Michael, 74.

Earlier this month Carole was snapped at the wheel of a car driving her daughter - pictured for the first time in two months - around Windsor Castle.

The photos were published by US gossip website TMZ but not in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private.

Kate's mother has also always been on hand to support Kate for her annual 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service - a known passion project of the princess's.

The Prince and Princess of Wales accompanied their children George, Louis and Charlotte for their first day at Lambrook School in Berkshire in September 2022

The Princess of Wales has previously been praised for her hands-on and 'down-to-earth' parenting style

Kate was seen with her family attending church at Sandringham on Christmas Day last year

William and Kate and family live at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor (file picture)

The Prince of Wales (pictured at the wheel) take his three children on the school run

She is known to be close with her mother, pictured together shopping in London

Michael and Carole pictured in the Royal Box on day nine of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships 

William waved to a cheering crowd in Sheffield on Tuesday when returning to royal duties

Other get-togethers have seen the mother and daughter huddled up alongside each other at Royal Ascot - and in summer 2022, Kate was seen blowing her parents a kiss as the family attended Wimbledon.

Kate, William and their children have their main home as four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor grounds in Berkshire, with no live-in staff although they do have a nanny, housekeeper and security team living nearby.

The Grade II listed property is owned by the Crown Estate and the couple are said to be paying 'market rent'.

Lambrook School has just 610 boys and girls aged three to 13 and is mixed so all three children can attend together, cutting down on school runs and security teams.