On January 10th came the news that Constantine II of Greece had died, aged 82.
He was king from 1964 until the monarchy was abolished by the Greek military junta on 1 June 1974.
Konstantin was married to the Danish Queen Margrethe’s sister, Anne-Marie.
Knight
TV 2’s royal house expert Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen says that Constantine II had a lot to do with the Danish royal house.
– He was both a knight of the Dannebrogorderen and of the Elephant Order. These are the two highest knighthoods that Danish monarchs can bestow, explains Hansen.
Furthermore, he says that the Order of Dannebrog is given according to Queen Margrethe’s personal wishes and provisions. Constantine is said to have received the Order of the Elephant from King Frederik IX when he married Princess Anne-Marie.
The Crown Prince couple and Princess Märtha Louise came to say goodbye to the last king of Greece.
FAREWELL: The Crown Prince Couple with Princess Märtha Louise Photo: Petros Giannakouris / AP
Hansen explains that the crown prince couple are good friends of Konstantin’s son, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece. He is godfather to Prince Sverre Magnus. Constantine II was also King Harald’s concubine.
Controversial decision
Konstantin lived most of his life in London. In 2013, he received permission to settle in his home country. Considered to be a divisive figure, he is by arrangement buried in a private ceremony.
– There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the fact that Constantine II does not get a state funeral, as he is a former head of state of Greece, explains Hansen.
He says that the Greek Prime Minister made a statement in which it was clear that he was not very positive towards Constantine.
– The Greek Prime Minister wrote that King Constantine will be judged fairly, but harshly, by history.
