Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Constantine II, King of the Helenes 1940-2023

 The death has been announced of Constantine II, former King of the Hellenes. He was 82. King Constantine died in Athens, 10 January, 2023.

King Constantine, godfather of the Prince of Wales, was doubly descended from Queen Victoria, and a second cousin and close friend of King Charles III. 

He was born in Rome, 2 June, 1940, son of King Paul (1901-64), and his wife Princess Frederica of Hanover (1917-81). Both his parents were descendants of Queen Victoria.

He succeeded to the throne of the Hellenes on the sudden death of his father, King Paul, 6 March, 1964, and reigned until the abolition of the Greek monarchy, 1 June, 1973. A referendum of 8 Dec, 1974 confirmed the abolition of the monarchy.

King Constantine married at Athens, 18 Sept, 1964, HRH Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark (born 30 Aug, 1946), a younger daughter of HM King Frederik IX of Denmark (1899-1972), and his wife Princess Ingrid of Sweden (1910-2000), by whom he had issue, three sons, Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos, and Prince Philippos, and two daughters, Alexia and Theodora.

The eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos (born 20 May, 1967), is now claimant to the throne of the Hellenes. He married 1 July, 1995, Marie-Chantal Miller (b 17 September, 1968), and has issue, 4 sons and one daughter.

King Constantine's sister, Sophie, is the wife of King Juan Carlos I, King of Spain 1975-2014.

Queen Victoria > Victoria, Princess Royal > Sophie of Prussia > King Paul > King Constantine

Queen Victoria > Victoria, Princess Royal > Wilhelm II German Emperor > Viktoria-Luise of Prussia > Frederica of Hanover > King Constantine

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