Former Princess Irene of Greece Passes Away at 83

Former princess Irene, the younger sister of Queen Sofia of Spain and sister to the late King Constantine of Greece, has died at the age of 83 at the Palace of Zarzuela in Madrid. The former Greek royal family announced her passing on Thursday, following a decline in her health that led her 87-year-old sister, Queen Sofia, to cancel all public obligations to be by her side in her final days. Born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1942, Irene was the daughter of former King Paul and Queen Frederika. From 1964 to 1965, she was considered the heir to the Greek throne. However, her life took a different turn in 1967 when she and her brother Constantine II went into exile due to a political crisis in Greece that ultimately led to the monarchy's abolition in 1974. In the years that followed, Irene withdrew from public life. Her last public appearance was at the wedding of Nicolas De Grès, the third child of Constantine, in February of this year. Throughout her life, she chose not to marry or have children, dedicating her efforts to spiritual pursuits, philosophy, and humanitarian work. Following the abolition of the monarchy, the former royal family has adopted the surname De Grès, which means 'of Greece,' for official purposes, particularly after acquiring Greek citizenship. Although they have no constitutional or political roles in Greece, their lineage remains significant in the annals of Greek history. Irene's burial is scheduled to take place at Tatoi Cemetery, within the former Tatoi Royal Estate north of Athens, where she will be laid to rest alongside her brother and parents. This marks the end of an era for a family that has been closely tied to the Greek monarchy and its tumultuous history over the last century. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2