The funeral of King Constantine II of Greece, deposed in 1974, has become a political, emotional and physical challenge.
Royal families from eleven countries flew to Athens to pay their respects to a “private individual” who was buried officially without the honors of a state leader, but with semi-honours unofficially.
The excitement caused by the funeral of the king was presented by the Greek media as “apolitical”, while open royalists and crypto-monarchists “generously splashed slop on the government.”
As early as 5 a.m., people began to line up in the chapel next to the Athens Cathedral for an “unofficial” ceremony to commemorate the body of the last king of Greece.
The body of the former king Constantine was in the chapel of Saint Eleftherios until 10:30 am on January 16th. Then it was transferred to the Cathedral.
Shortly after 11.00 official guests arrived at the funeral. The first to arrive at the metropolis were the honorary king of Spain, Juan Carlos, and the queen mother Sofia, the sister of the late Constantine. Princess Anne, a member of the British royal family, was also present. Next came the royal couple of the Netherlands, King Wilhelm Alexander and Queen Maxima. He was followed by Prince Albert of Monaco, King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde, and then the Spanish royal couple Philippe and Letizia. Then Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit arrived in Metropolis.
Pavlos Glucksburg
Philip Glucksburg
Philipp, Pavlos and Nicholas Glücksburg
King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife Queen Maxima
King Philippe of Belgium and his wife Queen Mathilde
Princess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and former King Simeon II of Bulgaria
King Felipe and Queen Letizia
Norwegian king Haakon with his wife Mette-Marit
Princess Anne of the British Royal Family
Swedish King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia
Grandchildren of the late King Constantine
Prince Frederick of Denmark
Margaret II of Denmark
Paul Glicksburg’s wife Marie Sandal and ex-King Constantine’s wife Anna Maria
In addition to titled persons, well-known Greek politicians and public figures came to the funeral of the former king:
Georgios Koumoutsakos
Konstantinos Bogdanos
Dimitris Kammenos
Antonis Samaras, Dimitris Vartsopoulos, Miltiadis Chryzomallis, George Samaras and Pericles Mantas
It is noteworthy that when Greek politicians appeared on the square, the people began to shout “shame”, “shame”, ending with the traditional sound denoting discontent and expressed “UUUU”.
After the memorial service, a column of 80 cars moved to Tatoi, where the former king was buried next to the graves of his ancestors.
The last member of the former royal family to be buried at Tatoi will be Constantine’s wife, who was a former queen for 59 years.
His children have no right to be buried there, nor will they ever have royal titles. The monarchy in Greece was abolished in 1974.
Throne in a non-existent kingdom?
Now everyone is wondering if Constantine’s firstborn Pavlos will move to Greece, enter politics, or maybe even claim the throne in a non-existent kingdom. In any case, before the death of his father, he introduced himself abroad as “Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece.”
We are told that the monarchy in Greece is over forever. But history teaches us never to say never. The more neglected the political situation in Greece becomes, the less trust there is in the current ruling party and the official opposition, as well as in the numerous “old-new” parties that have already “showed themselves” in the Greek politicum. And among the people there is more and more desire for some third force that can take the situation into strong hands, calm down the “thieves of temporary workers” and restore order in the country. And the personality of the “crown prince of Greece” – Pavlos Glucksburg – fully meets these aspirations.
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