Posts
King Konstantine, former King of Greece
King Konstantine II of Greece, was the last King of Greece. Forced to flee in December 1967 after the military junta took power, he lived in England for most of his life.
The Monarchy was abolished on 1 June 1973 and Greece became a republic .
He was a second cousin of King Charles III, godfather to William, Prince of Wales. He took the throne in Greece at age 24, married Princess Anna-Marie of Denmark. Has five children. The second child, eldest son, Pavlos, is known, outside Greece , as the Crown Prince of Greece. The king's sister Sofia married Juan Carlos, King of Spain.
Do we say the former King is dead, long live the new former king? No, the Monarchy has long been abolished.
He was not allowed to return to live in Greece for almost 50 years but finally returned in 2013, living not far from Poros down the coast at Porto Heli.
Now it seems he will be buried as a private citizen beside his mother and father at the former summer Palace of Tatoï, north of Athens.
Royal mourners from all over Europe are expected to attend. He was related to the royal families of Spain, Denmark and Great Britain and Germany.
His life, death and funeral will make an interesting diversion and hopefully take first place in news broadcasts for a few days, ahead of rape trials, wife killings, refugees, war and political scandal.
The 'imminent' return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece, at the moment in the British Museum, was making headlines, but maybe that news was a little premature. The British Museum has not agreed on anything yet.
The so called Elgin Marbles are a series of marble sculptures looted from the Parthenon, atop the Athens Acropolis, by Lord Elgin in 1801. Eventually Elgin sold them to the British Museum. Greece has been asking for their return since 1835.
.jpg)
May his soul rest un peace! I remember him as a very handsome young king, and an olympic golden medalist. His sister Sophia is the wife of the former king of Spain.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to have been popular when he was younger.
DeleteAfter the ‘old Pope’ then the disgraced Cardinal Pell, this makes the third. In my opinion his was a far better life to reflect on.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't cause too many ripples once he went into exile. He was still popular here amongst the older generation.
DeleteIt sounds like he didn't listen to the people. He perhaps should have gone with the majority and kept his position. Oh well. RIP
ReplyDeleteHe made some bad decisions when the military junta took over.
DeleteI hope the English return the marbles. There’s been repatriation going on all over the world the last few years, which is only right! Greece must have her heritage and culture preserved.
ReplyDeleteIt seems there has been some sort of break through in the talks. Somehow it still seems unlikely to me
DeleteR.I.P.
ReplyDeleteIt made the news here. All the royal families of Europe are related. Talk about nepo babies.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t hold my breath re the marbles. Since we have such. Huge Greek community here in Melbourne it’s been big news here for years. There was even a big sign in the saying bring her home. Or something like that
Maybe one day the marbles will be returned but it's not going to happen soon.
DeleteHis death didn't get much press here, just a brief mention. As for the marbles, I believe there was an agreement that Elgin should take them. Those in charge of Athens at the time probably sold them to him; he certainly had proof of ownership. I can't see them going back, it would start a rollercoaster and all museums would empty.
ReplyDeleteElgin had all sorts of papers from the then authorities. He wasn't the only one who was dragging home relics. It was happening in Egypt and other places too. The British museum is full of other countries relics.
ReplyDeleteGreece has prepared a special space for the marbles in the new Acropolis Museum . Who knows. Maybe one day they'll get them
Strange that Greece - the home of the republic ever had a royal family (I suppose if we looked at the history of his family they weren't Greek at all but another scion of the royal houses that made alliances to rule large chunks of Europe in recent centuries.) May he rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteThe Monarchy was forced on them after the Turks were pushed out. I should reread the history!
DeleteSometimes I wonder what the monarch of the UK is there for, it's almost like they don't hold an important function anymore. I definitely didn't know that Greece had a royal family.
ReplyDeleteThe Monarchy is an antiquated system which dying out, very very slowly. I wonder if Australia and New Zealand will become republics. Not in my lifetime I guess
Delete