His Majesty King Constantine II, former Head of State of Greece, died on 10th January at the Hygeia Hospital in Athens. Having been in poor health for a time he was taken to hospital after having suffered a stroke on 6th January. The King was first submitted to the ICU and the whole family gathered in Athens to be at His Majesty’s side. Even his two sisters Queen Sophia of Spain and Princess Irene of Greece travelled to their country of origin to be with the family. Queen Sophia had just attended the funeral of the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Rome and flew directly to Athens. The news was that the King’s condition was serious. Then on January 10th it was first reported by some that the King’s condition was improving. However, later in the day it was confirmed that the King had not made it.
If we are to believe the reports the Royal Family had already been in discussion with the Greek Government concerning the arrangements of a funeral in case the King did not survive. This is how serious his condition was. As a former Head of State of Greece it is reported that the family would wish for a State Funeral. This, however, was not seen as desirable by the Greek Government and it was decided that the late King would be buried as a “private individual”. The funeral service would take place at the metropolitan cathedral in the Greek capital before transferring the remains of the late King to Tatoi and interred there. The date for the funeral was set for Monday 16th January.
Although the funeral was described as a private one many Royal Heads of State made it known in the following days that they would attend. All in all there were seven current Heads of State (four Kings, one Queen, one Grand Duke and one Prince) attending together with representatives from many Royal Families, both reigning and non-reigning. A more detailed list can be found here.
On the eve of the funeral the Royal Family gave a dinner for guests who had already arrived in Athens in order to attend the events the next day.
The coffin of the deceased King had been placed in the chapel of Agios Eleftherios, a small chapel close to the metropolitan cathedral, and during a few hours in the early morning of the day of the funeral itself the public would be able to pay their respects there. Many turned out to do just that. As the time of the funeral service approached the coffin draped in the Greek flag was then moved into the cathedral. Here it was placed on a catafalque and a lovely wreath of lilies-of-valley from the late King’s widow placed on top. The lilies-of-valley had a special significance as it was the flower most prominent in her bridal bouquet when she married King Constantine in 1964 in the same cathedral. In front of the coffin were velvet cushions with some of the most important honours belonging to the late King. On one of them were the two highest Orders of the Kingdom of Greece; the Sash and Breast Star of the Order of the Redeemer and the Collar and Breast Star of the Order of Saints George and Constantine. Also on this cushion lay the badge commemorating the centenary of the Royal House of Greece. On another pillow several medals could be seen; the two first corresponding to the Order of the Redeemer and the Order of the Saints George and Constantine. The third medal is of the Order of George I and the fourth of the Order of the Phoenix. Then follows the medal of Military Merit with the final one being of the Danish Order of Dannebrog.
On one of the red cushions were the insignias of his Danish Orders; the Sash and Breast Star of the Order of the Elephant (1962) and the Grand Commander’s badge and Breast Star of the Order of the Dannebrog (1964). Placed on the fourth cushion was the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1964). A Marshal’s baton had also been laid next to the cushions. Another distinctions displayed was the Olympic medal in sailing the late King and his crew won back in 1960 in the Games in Rome.
The funeral service began at noon. Guests had been filling up the seats in the cathedral well in advance of this though. And outside the cathedral many supporters of the Royal Family had gathered. Welcoming the mourners at the entrance as they arrived was the late King’s eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos. Some of the first Royal guests to arrive were the King and Queen of the Netherlands in the company of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands. Queen Sophia also arrived early in the company of her husband King Juan Carlos, her sister Princess Irene, her two daughters Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina as well as the children of her daughters.
It was only when all the guests were inside the cathedral that the widowed Queen arrived. She was accompanied by her daughter-in-law Crown Princess Marie-Chantal. She was clearly touched by the large crowd that had gathered in front of the cathedral and she thanked them by facing them and placing her hands on her heart. It must have been a very emotional moment for the Queen and also for her eldest son who stood waiting for her on top of the stairs leading up to the cathedral. He reached out for his mother when she was nearly at the top of the stairs and supported her ascending those final steps. He then kissed her on both cheeks and on her hand before they both faced the crowd again and repeated the gesture of putting their hands on their hearts in thanks.
The main door into the cathedral had now been opened up and the Queen guided by her eldest son walked in. Once inside the cathedral the congregation stood up as the mother and son walked up the aisle. Some bowed their heads in respect and there were even a few curtsies. It was a powerful image.
When the Queen and the Crown Prince reached the base of the coffin they stopped for a brief moment in reflection. Then the Queen leaned forward to kiss the icon before they both walked up to their seats on the right side of the coffin. The rest of the Royal Family had already been seated, the children with spouses on the first row, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Princess Irene together with the late King’s grandchildren on the second row. The only exception was that Prince Constantine-Alexios sat next to his mother on the first row being the eldest son of the Crown Prince and now heir to the headship of the Royal House. Finally on the second row sat Princess Benedikte, the Dowager Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. On the third row sat King Constantine’s cousin Prince Michael with his wife Princess Marina then Infanta Elena of Spain and Infanta Cristina of Spain. To the right of Infanta Cristina sat Prince Joachim of Denmark then Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig.
Over on the left side of the coffin were representatives from other Royal Families. Nearest the altar on the first row was Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. She was both very close family but also the longest reigning monarch present in the cathedral. She had her son and heir His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Denmark by her side. Next to him sat the Royal Couple of Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. All reigning Sovereigns were treated equally, no matter what style and title they carried. So the next longest reigning monarch present after the Swedish King was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Next to him sat Prince Albert II of Monaco who had the King and Queen of the Netherlands to his right. The next couple was King Philippe of the Belgians and his wife Queen Mathilde and then finally the King and Queen of Spain.
On the second row, representing the Royal House of Norway, sat His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Norway. He was accompanied by his wife. Next to her sat the Princess Royal representing the Royal House of Windsor. She was accompanied by her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, being the former reigning Queen of the Netherlands, had been placed to the right of Sir Timothy followed by Princess Sarvath and Queen Noor of Jordan. As the former Head of State and King of the now republic of Bulgaria King Simeon II came next with Empress Farah Diba sitting to his immediate right. Then followed the Head of the Serbian Royal Family Crown Prince Alexander (II) and Crown Prince Katherine with Prince Radu representing the Romania Royal Family sitting at the end of the second row.
Lady Gabriella Kingston, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and granddaughter of Princess Marina who was born a Princess of Greece, sat at the top of the third row. She is a goddaughter of the late King and she was also representing the Prince of Wales, another of the late King’s godchildren. Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna followed next and then Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (born Princess of Luxembourg and sister of the current Grand Duke of Luxemboug), Princess Märtha Louise (daughter of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway), Princess Raiyah of Jordan, Princess Alexandra (daughter of Prince Michael), Mr Darius Mirzayantz, Mr Felipe Froilan Marichalar y Borbón, Miss Victoria Marichalar y Borbón, Mr Juan Urdangarin y Borbón, Mr Pablo Urdangarin y Borbón, Mr Miguel Urdangarin y Borbón and finally Miss Irene Urdangarin y Borbón.
Finally, a few Royal guests had to be placed in the pews with Princess Christina Mrs Magnuson sitting on the front row to the right followed by the Margrave and Margravine of Baden, Ms Chantal Hochuli (former Princess of Hanover) then the Hereditary Prince and Princess of Hanover, Ernest Augustus and Ekaterina. On the second row sat Princess Alessandra of Hanover, Prince Christian of Hanover and Prince Alexander of Schleswig.
To the left sat the representatives that the Greek Government had decided to send; the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture. The Minister of the Interior was also present. When the ministers had arrived at the cathedral the crowd outside had made it very clear that they were not at all impressed with the Greek Government as loud boos could be heard.
The funeral service was conducted by the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece His Beatitude Ieronymos II. He was assisted by several clergymen. They were all dressed in rich and elaborate vestments while filling the whole cathedral with their song.
After the mass Crown Prince Pavlos rose and gave an emotional eulogy. At one point the Crown Prince had to pause for a moment to compose himself. First he spoke in Greek and then in English. The Queen’s eyes filled up and when the Crown Prince sat back into his seat she put her hand on his.
Once the service was over the coffin was slowly carried out by a bearer party behind the cross and the clergy. Immediately behind the coffin walked the new Head of the Royal House and the Dowager Queen. Behind them walked the new heir, Constantine-Alexios, escorting his mother the Crown Princess. Then followed the rest of the King’s nearest family in couples before the Royal guests in order of precedence. The remains of the late King were then transported to the former Royal estate of Tatoi where he would be interred in the private cemetery. His Majesty will there rest next to his father and mother and many other members of the Greek Royal Dynasty.
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