Funeral of Greece’s last king, Constantine II, takes place in Athens

Royal who reigned for barely three years before being exiled is laid to rest six days after death was announced

He was a king without a crown, a monarch without a kingdom, for longer than most can remember. But for a few hours in Athens on Monday, Constantine II, the royal who reigned for barely three years before being forced into exile was king of the Hellenes again - or at least of thousands of his former subjects.

From a little before dawn, six days after his death was announced at the age of 82, Greek monarchists young and old, rich and poor, lined up patiently to pay their last respects.